Pretoria - Forty South Africans have been selected for training in South African Airways’ (SAA) Cadet Pilot Development Programme.
The 40 men and women began their training to become qualified commercial pilots began their training today [Monday].
The final 40 candidates -- who were selected following a selection process-- fall under the category of previously disadvantaged individuals as defined in the Employment Equity Act.
The cadet programme seeks to transform the flight deck community.
“It is important to ensure that there is transformation across all disciplines in the company. At the moment, SAA’s flight deck crew is not reflective of South Africa’s race and gender demographics. It is thus evident that SAA and other local aviation operators need to take steps that will redress the demographically skewed work force and to ensure the advancement of the previously disadvantaged,” SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said.
The selection comes in the month where South Africa commemorates its youth.
“As a state-owned company, SAA is pleased to make this announcement during the Youth Month when the airline reflects on initiatives that focus on the country’s youth in order to empower them to acquire scarce and critical skills required in aviation. The Cadet Pilot Development Programme is but one of these initiatives,” explained Tlali.
The 14 month training period comprises of theoretical and practical training which will enable trainees to get a ‘frozen’ ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot License) which will be followed by approximately three years of internship.
For its 2012 intake, a total 5 278 applications of which 271 were shortlisted and moved on to the next phase of the selection process were received by the national carrier. From the 271 applications, 40 South Africans were selected to participate in the programme.
SAA’s transformation strategy is informed by the BBBEE Aviation Sector Charter. In the case of this particular programme, when assessing all applications, SAA is obliged to give preference to previously disadvantaged groups.
The programme has selected 10 African men; 4 African women; 9 coloured men; 1 Coloured woman; 7 Indian men; 2 Indian women as well as 7 White women.
“The pool of future pilots who will be developed through this programme will not be of service to SAA alone but to other domestic airlines as well. Notwithstanding, enrolment into this program does not guarantee future employment for the candidates by SAA,” said Tlali.
For the 2013/14 the Cadet Pilot Development Programme intake will begin soon with the selection process likely to commence in August 2013. - SAnews.gov.za
