easyJet · Cadet / ab initio

Generation easyJet MPL Cadet Programme - A320

An ab initio pilot training programme run by CAE in partnership with easyJet, open to candidates with no previous flying experience. It leads to an MPL licence and an A320 type rating, with entry as a co-pilot at easyJet upon completion.

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Employer: easyJet
Position: Cadet / ab initio
Base: Formation CAE à Bruxelles, Madrid ou Londres-Gatwick (phase théorique), puis Milan ou Londres-Gatwick (simulateur) ; intégration ensuite chez easyJet
Aircraft: Airbus A320
Contract: Programme cadet ab initio menant à une Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL), suivi d'une intégration chez easyJet comme copilote A320
Pay (as pilots report it): French contract: captain about €149,700 gross a year; first officer about €74,300 to €91,200 (September 2024)
Seen: 8 October 2026

Key points

ATPL theory training in Brussels, Madrid or London Gatwick
Practical and simulator phases in Milan and London Gatwick
Leads to an MPL licence and A320 type rating
Direct entry as an A320 co-pilot with easyJet after training
Programme cost stated as €115,000
Open to applicants with no prior flying experience

What the employer asks for

Aged 18 or over by the course start date
Unrestricted right to live and work in the UK, EU, EEA or Switzerland
Secondary school certificates in maths, English, a science and two other subjects
Fluent in English, spoken and written
Minimum height of 5'2" (157cm), compatible with Airbus flight deck requirements
Able to obtain a Class 1 medical certificate
Must not already hold a CPL/IR or ATPL, or have more than 200 flying hours

What the employer offers

Full ground, simulator and flight training
Manuals and documentation for the MPL programme
All EASA or UKCAA theory exams
Advanced UPRT training
Flight bag and uniform provided
Resits and remedial training under CAE's quality assurance programme
Travel to the core training location included
Accommodation during base and line training with easyJet, depending on base

The selection process

Online application and eligibility check
ADAPT test (computer-based pilot aptitude, technical reasoning, multitasking)
Group exercises and personal interview
Offer of a place as an easyJet MPL cadet if successful

Summary written by ForAllPilots from the employer's posting. Only the official posting counts: check every condition before you apply.

Low-cost medium-haul

easyJet at a glance

One of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe, with many bases, several of them in France (Paris-CDG, Lyon, Nice, Bordeaux…).

Bases: London Gatwick
Fleet: Airbus A319/A320/A321 (including A320neo/A321neo)

Pilot recruitment

One of the airlines known for offering a structured ab initio cadet programme (the “easyJet Pilot Academy”, run with partner schools), leading to a first officer position on its 100% Airbus A320 family fleet without prior airline experience for some programmes. Check whether current campaigns are open, and their criteria, on the careers site.

The full easyJet guide →

Pay and conditions, as pilots report them

Figures reported by pilots, not confirmed by the airline, each one dated (last update: November 2025). For information only.

French contract figures. Captain: about €149,700 gross a year (90% for the first 6 months), plus a loyalty bonus of 5% from 2 to 4 years, 10% from 5 to 9 years and 15% beyond (September 2024).
First officer: about €74,300 gross a year, and about €91,200 as senior first officer (3,000 hours and ATPL), plus a 5% loyalty bonus after 3 years (September 2024).
Second officer: about €50,900 gross a year, no sector pay; upgrade to first officer after 1,250 hours and 2 years of service (September 2024).
Training roles: +12.5% of basic pay as LTC, +15% as TRI, +17.5% as TRE, +20% as ground instructor (2018).
Sector pay: about €49.62 for a captain and €29.51 for a first officer, multiplied by 0.8 to 2.5 depending on sector length (2016); temporary loss of licence insurance negotiated by the SNPL union. Pension: CRPN.
Full-time rosters: 5/3/5/4 with no random month, or a random roster with 146 days off a year (at least 12 a month), 35 days of leave. Part time: 4 on / 4 off paid 90%, one week in four off paid 77%, two weeks in four off paid 53%, 7/7 paid 50% (October 2024).
Staff travel: unlimited tickets on the network for 4 people, employee included; holiday vouchers depending on length of service (October 2024).
Hiring: experienced first officers as needed, mostly for less popular bases (Spain, Portugal), with transfers possible afterwards, France included; A320 type rating and 500 hours on type at least. Newcomers mostly hired through the MPL programme (November 2025).

Reports published on pilotjobsnetwork.com

Compare pilot pay at other airlines →

The easyJet selection, as candidates tell it

What candidates report on forums (Aeronet, Pilot Jobs Network) and what the employer publishes, summarised by ForAllPilots. It is not the official process: it changes from one campaign to the next, always check the posting.

Reliability of the reports : medium

The stages

Online application for a specific base, with documents and a questionnaire.
Aon (formerly cut-e) online tests of about 1 h 45: personality, coordination, orientation, multitasking, verbal reasoning and situational judgement questions in a first officer role.
Non-technical assessment (HR interview and group exercise), online or on site depending on the session.
Technical assessment in the A320 simulator at a training centre (Gatwick or Milan), with a full brief sent in advance.
Cadets: aptitude tests (motor skills, spatial) plus maths and technical papers, assessment by video call.
MPL cadets (CAE), detailed 2022 account: stage 1 computer-based Versant English test (about 1 h, reading aloud, repeating, rephrasing, storytelling, automatic scoring, filmed), from which a good TOEIC can exempt you; stage 2 ADAPT tests (Symbiotics); stage 3 a full day by video call.
Cadet video-call day (2022): presentation of easyJet in the morning, group exercise of about 1 h with 4 to 5 candidates (10 min of individual reading then about 30 min of discussion), then an individual interview of about 45 min with a captain.

The aptitude tests

Aon / cut-e via the MapTQ portal: spatial orientation with compass and ADF/NDB needle, mouse-based hand-eye coordination, multitasking.
Verbal reasoning (often considered the hardest) and sometimes numerical, under severe time pressure.
Workplace behaviour questionnaire in which you distribute points between several statements.
First officer situation questions: choose or weight possible decisions.
Cadet ADAPT (Symbiotics, 2022, confirmed by another candidate in 2025): maths (30 min), physics (30 min), cognitive test (30 min: logic, mental arithmetic, 3D, memory, sequences), FAST test of about 15 min (a 3-min mini flight in which you react to beeps and aircraft while answering calculations and flying a small aircraft, then a debrief of questions and a second attempt) and a personality questionnaire of about 300 questions to complete beforehand.

The technical part

Raw-data simulator: take-off and ILS flown manually according to a profile sent in advance.
Depending on the year, a questionnaire or technical interview with a pilot (systems, performance).
Cadets: maths and physics at final-year science level (multiple-choice, formula sheet provided), without advanced aviation technical content.

Candidates' tips

Do the cut-e examples available online to learn the format, then practise for speed.
Prepare the simulator from the profile provided: pitch attitudes, thrust settings, callouts.
The format changes from year to year (group exercise dropped then reintroduced): read the invitation carefully.
Cadet interview: motivation questions (30-second introduction, why a pilot, why easyJet, competitors, industry challenges, funding) then 4 competency questions (conflict, leadership, adaptability, an important decision); keep time for your own questions.
The official Symbiotics practice pack seemed sufficient to one successful candidate; in the personality questionnaire, answer quickly without trying to avoid contradicting yourself.

Our exercises to prepare

Sources read (10)

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.

Practise the aptitude tests →Over twenty exercises (multitasking, mental arithmetic, cubes, orientation, CUT E, COMPASS and DLR series), scored and tracked over time. (FR)Revise the ATPL theory →The question bank by subject, mock exams and the AI Instructor to prepare the technical test.Prepare the interview with Selection Coaching →A written mock selection interview with an AI panel (beta), technical and HR. It does not guarantee the result of a real selection.The easyJet guide: recruitment, fleet, bases →What to know about the airline before you apply.

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