Air Astana · Cadet / ab initio
Ab-initio Pilot Training Programme - Air Astana
Air Astana offers an ab-initio pilot training programme in Kazakhstan. The programme is aimed at candidates with no prior flying experience.
- Employer
- Air Astana
- Position
- Cadet / ab initio
- Base
- Kazakhstan
- Pay (public sources)
- Captain: about EUR 10,000 net per month; first officer: about EUR 3,200 to 4,700 net per month, at 65 block hours (2024)
- Seen
- 8 October 2026
Key points
- Ab-initio training programme
- Offered by Air Astana
- Based in Kazakhstan
Summary written by ForAllPilots from the employer's posting. Only the official posting counts: check every condition before you apply.
Pay and conditions, from public sources
Figures published by the airline, pilot unions or the press, each one dated (last update: October 2024). For information only.
- Captain: about EUR 8,000 net fixed plus about EUR 2,000 flight pay for 65 block hours, i.e. about EUR 10,000 net per month, excluding bonuses tied to company results (October 2024).
- First officer: EUR 2,300 to 3,800 net fixed plus about EUR 800 flight pay for 65 block hours, i.e. EUR 3,200 to 4,700 net per month (October 2024).
- Salary is paid in tenge but pegged to the euro; expatriates pay a flat 10% income tax in Kazakhstan (October 2024).
- Base supplement: EUR 1,000 net per month for captains (including about EUR 500 housing) and EUR 750 net for first officers (including about EUR 350 housing); bases in Almaty, Astana, Aktau and Shymkent, with Atyrau seasonal (October 2024).
- Travel allowances: EUR 18 per day in Kazakhstan, EUR 55 international and EUR 55 during training (October 2024).
- Choice of pattern: 40 days of leave plus 10 days off, or a commuting roster of 6 weeks on / 2 weeks off; open-ended contract (October 2024).
- Benefits: medical insurance, loss-of-licence cover (up to USD 100,000 for captains, USD 75,000 for first officers), a corporate pension plan and discounted travel (October 2024).
- A320 hiring: type-rated first officers with 1,500 hours including 500 on type, or non-rated with a CPL and 400 hours including 200 multi-crew multi-engine; type-rated captains with 1,000 command hours (max age 62), or non-rated with 1,200 command hours (max age 55) (October 2024).
- Two-day selection: technical interview and simulator session, then a Compass test, psychometric tests and a final interview; simulator paid by the airline, 3 hotel nights provided, results within 2 weeks (October 2024).
Sources read (2)
Give yourself every chance
A cadet selection mostly assesses your potential: aptitude tests (attention, mental arithmetic, spatial orientation, memory), English, then a motivation interview and often a group exercise.
Practise the aptitude tests regularly, in short sessions, and track your scores: progress is what counts, not a cramming week.
Revise the theory basics (meteorology, navigation, principles of flight): many selections touch on them, and you will need them from day one of training.