Flight training firm sees higher demand for pilots this year

MANILA, Philippines — European flight training organization CADETPILOT.AERO sees very high demand for pilots this year as the global aviation industry recovers.

“We are very pleased that we can introduce our new program to the Philippines, especially as the world is recovering from the pandemic and airlines are resuming their recruitment activities,” said training manager Patrik Dvorak.

Dvorak sees very high demand from different markets around the world, citing India as an example where the recruitment drive for the future pilots is expected to take place in the second half of this year.

The organization is calling on Filipinos interested in becoming a pilot to avail of its 52-week pilot course in Europe.

The program is targeting select Filipino individuals to undergo the program in Prague under which the reimbursement of the training cost will take the form of future salary deductions.

It does not require applicants to have any specialized knowledge or prior flying experience. The only requirements are to have Filipino citizenship, be at least 18 years old, hold a high school diploma, and pass the assessment process designed to identify the talented, but most importantly, motivated candidates.

“Studies and even our experience shows that most candidates fail the training because they lack the motivation. This is reflected in our assessment process, which was not designed to look for the high IQ, but rather for the right set of skills and motivation,” Dvorak said.

He said the program is timely given that a number of airlines are now facing a shortage in pilots.

According to aviation consulting firm Oliver Wyman, the industry will need about 19,000 pilots globally by the end of 2022. This number is expected to grow to about 60,000 in 2029 as the number of baby boomer pilots who earned their wings in the military are forced to retire at 65.

Sponsored pilot training programs may also become more common because many interested individuals cannot afford the initial financial investment into the pilot career.

CADETPILOT.AERO will accept applications for the training program until April 30.