Airbus is launching the Airbus Pilot Cadet Training programme to help meet growing demand for new pilots in coming years. The company predicts that a total of 540,000 new pilots will be needed over the next two decades.

The programme, including ab initio training, is being launched in partnership with Escuela de Aviacion Mexico (EAM), located near the Airbus Mexico Training Centre. After completing their initial training with EAM, cadets will qualify at the Airbus Mexico Training centre to become Airbus A320 pilots.

Airbus – which has been expanding its training locations worldwide over the past few years, e.g. in Singapore – says it will leverage its EASA-based programme to offer innovative, high-quality and cost-effective ab initio training. Airbus customers will be able to delegate pilot screening activities and to recruit competent pilots trained to global harmonised standards.

The programme aims to equip cadets with the skills and mindset required to become an “operationally-ready pilot”. Global standards set by the Airbus Flight Training reference will ensure a harmonised, high quality training.

Airbus also provides a bridge course from local licence to EASA licence, allowing cadets to enlarge their scope of future employers while ensuring the same high standards from a harmonised training curriculum.

The programme will be open to young people over 18 years old who have graduated from high school. Candidates will undergo screening tests online and on-site. The first batch of Airbus cadets is expected to start training in January 2019, graduating in July 2020. Similar partnerships are planned across the globe over the coming years.

Escuela de Aviacion Mexico (EAM) was established in 1943 and trains 200 cadets per year. Serving Mexico’s main airlines, EAM is located in Mexico City and Guadalajara with flight bases in Acapulco, Cuernavaca and Atizapán.