Cathay pilot trainees banned from solo flights as planes damaged

A US pilot school has suspended all solo flights for Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. cadets after a number of training incidents that damaged planes and went unreported by the trainee aircrew. Phoenix, Arizona-based AeroGuard Flight Training Center has told all Cathay cadets that “effective immediately, all solo flights are grounded” after AeroGuard saw “an alarming increase in solo incidents during cadet training,” according to a memo seen by Bloomberg News. “These incidents were not minor — one wingtip collision with a fixed object, one bounced landing leading to a substantial prop strike on the runway and most recently, a complete runway excursion. While each situation was unique, in each case the concern was the same — required consultation did not occur” and in two of the three instances, “the students failed to properly report the damage.” Cathay, in a response to Bloomberg, acknowledged the events took place and said it is taking them seriously. “These incidents involve our sponsored students, who will become our employees upon successful graduation from the training course. They will then need to undergo additional structured training before being assigned any flying duty,” Cathay said in a statement, adding that “safety guides every decision we make and we fully support the decision of the training school.” AeroGuard Flight Training Center didn’t respond to a call seeking comment outside of normal US business hours. The suspension of solo flights is a blow to Cathay at a time it’s trying to restock its depleted pilot ranks post Covid. Cathay, along with several other airlines, relies on AeroGuard to churn out hundreds of freshman pilots every year. <br/>