Air Niugini recruits four into cadet pilot training program

Four successful young men signed their contracts with Air Niugini this morning as pilot cadets under the airlines National Cadet Pilot Training Program.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Marco McConnell say the cadets were selected from more than 1,000 applications nationwide and a shortlist of 400 underwent an entry test which saw 20 applicants attain a pass mark of 80% for their next assessment and selection phase where the top four cadets were selected.

“The selection process carried out included academic ability, internal aptitude test and interviews conducted by Air Niugini’s Flight Operations Department,” McConnell said.

The four pilot cadets Iga Kila, Bradley Richard, Ezekiel Koralyo and Gabriel Kale will be leaving for their initial 18 months pilot training at the Professional Pilots Training Centre in Coffs Harbor, New South Wales this Friday July 8, where they will be expected to graduate with their Commercial Pilots License (CPL) and multi-engine instrument rating.

Executive Manager for Flight Operations Captain Samiv Taufa says that since the inception of the cadet pilot training program, Air Niugini has graduated more than 80 national pilots both men and women who now serve in the flight crew of its aircraft from Dash 8’s to Boeing 767’s, adding that the program has graduated seven young women and the aim of increasing that number is a major priority.

Captain Taufa adds that Captain Beverly Parkii had made history in April 2015 when she became the first female to achieve her command on the Dash 8 aircraft under the Air Niugini Pilot Cadet Training Program since its commencement in the 1970’s.   LoopPNG