Hong Kong’s Cathay pulls 3 cadet pilots from US training programme after serious blunders
Hong Kong’s Cathay pulls 3 cadet pilots from US training programme after serious blunders
Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has removed three cadet pilots from a training programme after three serious blunders at a US-based training centre, citing its “zero-tolerance” over non-compliance with flight incident reporting requirements.
The company said on Wednesday it made its decision after the trio failed to comply with the requirements at the AeroGuard Flight Training Centre in Phoenix, Arizona.
The move followed the completion of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the training school in collaboration with the carrier and the relevant authorities, it said.
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Cathay Pacific’s director of flight operations, Chris Kempis, said it recognised mistakes would occur, with opportunities given to students to learn and improve, but it would not tolerate non-compliance with core requirements.
“A just and open reporting culture is at the centre of our values. Being aligned with this culture is fundamental to being a Cathay Pacific pilot,” he said.
“However, we have a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with flight incident reporting requirements. We are committed to providing comprehensive training and ensuring that our future pilots are well-equipped to uphold the highest levels of safety and professionalism.”
The carrier said the solo flights at the centre, which had been suspended during the investigation, had resumed with immediate effect.
Concerns were raised after AeroGuard banned solo flights by Hong Kong trainees following a string of major mistakes in three weeks – a wingtip collision with a fixed object, a bounced landing which caused a substantial impact to the aircraft’s propeller and a plane which ran off a runway.
Jay Meade, AeroGuard’s vice-president and head of training, told Cathay cadets in an email early this month that the pilots involved in the incidents had elected to continue with their missions, but they should have spoken to their duty flight instructor before proceeding.
The cadets were not “meeting expectations regarding training, guidance and direction, as related to the application of proper aeronautical decision making”, he said.
Cathay vowed to strengthen the reporting culture among its cadets.
“Going forward, our just and open reporting culture as well as the appropriate communication process for reporting flight incidents will continue to be reinforced among all Cathay Pacific cadet pilots through additional training,” it said.
The carrier reiterated it had an “extremely stringent” recruitment and assessment process for its cadets.
It said fewer than 8 per cent of applicants were accepted into its cadet programme, which could lead to them becoming second officers after completing the related training and assessment.
“All qualifying cadet pilots after graduation from their initial 60-week course are required to undergo further induction training in order to join the company and be endorsed as second officers on one of Cathay Pacific’s aircraft types,” the airline said.
The company added the training involved further assessments before they could operate, under supervision, as second officers.
“The Cathay Group’s rebuild and training schedule remain on track,” it said.
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