Cathay Pacific Pilot Requirements 2026: Hours, Licence and Hiring Process

Cathay is the rare airline with three published doors. The sponsored Cadet Pilot Programme takes applications year-round for a course of about 80 weeks. Direct Entry Second Officer takes an ICAO CPL with more than 250 hours; in 2023 the course was reported as 31 weeks at Flight Training Adelaide, including the Hong Kong ATPL subjects. Direct Entry First Officer wants an ICAO ATPL, or CPL/MEIR with same-state ATPL credits, and 1,500 hours total including multi-crew transport time and 500 hours of command (up to 250 P1 U/S) — though versions of the advert disagree on the aircraft weight that counts. All new Second and First Officers are based in Hong Kong; the pre-employment stage adds a Class 1 medical under HKCAD and a psychoactive-substance test. Command is internal.

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Is Cathay Pacific hiring pilots now?

Recruiting at the last check on 21 September 2026 — First Officer seat: Recruiting; Captain seat: Not offered. Three doors in: Cadet (sponsored, year-round), Direct Entry Second Officer from more than 250 h, Direct Entry First Officer from 1,500 h total.

Requirements, as published

Entry routes

• Cadet Pilot Programme — sponsored, about 80 weeks, ground school in Hong Kong and flying in the US or Australia; applications open year-round, and open to Mainland applicants since 2023
• Direct entry Second Officer — ICAO CPL with more than 250 h; 31-week programme at Flight Training Adelaide including the HK ATPL subjects (reported 2023)
• Direct entry First Officer — ICAO ATPL or CPL/MEIR with same-state ATPL credits, 1,500 h total; placement on the A321neo, A330, A350, B777 or B747 freighter
• Direct entry Captain — not offered; command is internal

Selection process

1. Online application through the careers portal, with documents and logbook totals
2. Online assessments — psychometric tests including abstract reasoning and an instrument-orientation task, sometimes an online technical test; preparation providers link them to Aon (cut-e)
3. Online interview — reported as an HR-led video call of 25–40 minutes
4. Assessment at Cathay City, Hong Kong — a simulator assessment on a type assigned about seven days before (the A330 is often mentioned), and an interview and document check mixing technical and HR questions; a group exercise is not confirmed for every campaign
5. Pre-employment medical (Class 1 standard under HKCAD), drug test and background checks
6. Offer

Bases and fleet

Bases: Hong Kong — all new Second and First Officers are based there (careers FAQ)

Fleet: 235 aircraft in the Group at 30 June 2026, 105 on firm order (2026 Interim Results) · Cathay Pacific: A321neo, A330, A350, B777 — the DEFO advert says a new First Officer may be placed on any of these or the B747 freighter · Cathay Cargo: B747 freighters · HK Express: A320neo family · Air Hong Kong: A330 freighters

How to prepare

Second Officers spend years as cruise relief on the wide-body fleets. The DEFO advert says a new First Officer may be placed on the A321neo, A330, A350, B777 or B747 freighter — most placements are widebody — so the ATPL theory banks are the core preparation, and the A320 bank covers the A321neo; the Hong Kong ATPL subjects in the Adelaide course are standard ICAO theory. Candidates describe a broad technical interview (older reports stress navigation theory: inertial navigation, GNSS, Schuler tuning) and a simulator on a type assigned about a week in advance — the brief is your syllabus.

Then read the complete airline pilot interview guide for the HR and competency stages, and check Cathay Pacific’s entry on the jobs board for the latest status.

What we could not confirm

• Figures here come from Cathay’s adverts, careers FAQ and results releases, from candidate reports, and from search results of Cathay’s careers pages on 21 September 2026. Confirm the vacancy is still open before you apply.
• The DEFO aircraft threshold: versions of the advert say above 45,000 kg or above 10,000 kg / more than 19 seats
• How work visas are handled, and whether any English level above ICAO 4 is preferred
• Whether the Second Officer direct-entry route is open at the moment
• Probation and bond terms (including for the sponsored cadet course), and whether a group exercise is part of the current campaign

These points are not published clearly by the airline. Treat them as leads, not facts, and confirm them on the careers page: careers page.

Common questions

Is Cathay Pacific hiring pilots right now? Recruiting at the last check (21 September 2026): First Officer seat recruiting, Captain seat not offered. Three doors in: Cadet (sponsored, year-round), Direct Entry Second Officer from more than 250 h, Direct Entry First Officer from 1,500 h total. Confirm on the airline’s own careers page before applying.

How many flight hours do you need to join Cathay Pacific? 1,500 h (FO) · 250 h+ (SO). In full: First Officer: 1,500 h total, including multi-crew transport time and a command element of 500 h, of which up to 250 h may be P1 U/S. The adverts conflict on the aircraft: one version (2024–2026) says multi-crew aircraft above 45,000 kg, another above 10,000 kg or more than 19 seats (that version, as indexed, also asks for 500 h in the last five years) — read the live advert. Second Officer: more than 250 h in specified categories. Cadet: none..

Does Cathay Pacific hire direct entry Captains? No. Cathay Pacific publishes no external Captain route; command is by internal seniority, and experienced Captains join as First Officers.

Does Cathay Pacific provide the type rating? Provided. In full: Not required — provided.

Do I need the right to work in Hong Kong SAR? All new Second and First Officers are based in Hong Kong; the careers FAQ describes relocation assistance for joiners from overseas. Visa arrangements unconfirmed — ask recruitment.

What is Cathay Pacific’s pilot selection process? Online application through the careers portal, with documents and logbook totals → Online assessments — psychometric tests including abstract reasoning and an instrument-orientation task, sometimes an online technical test; preparation providers link them to Aon (cut-e) → Online interview — reported as an HR-led video call of 25–40 minutes → Assessment at Cathay City, Hong Kong — a simulator assessment on a type assigned about seven days before (the A330 is often mentioned), and an interview and document check mixing technical and HR questions; a group exercise is not confirmed for every campaign → Pre-employment medical (Class 1 standard under HKCAD), drug test and background checks → Offer