Saudia · Cadet / ab initio
Pilot Cadet Programme - Saudia
Saudia is opening a cadet programme for pilots who already hold a multi-engine commercial licence. Successful candidates will be trained and go on to fly the airline's fleet. The programme is open to Saudi nationals only.
- Employer
- Saudia
- Position
- Cadet / ab initio
- Contract
- Programme cadet
- Seen
- 8 October 2026
Key points
- Open to Saudi nationals only
- Height requirement between 165cm and 193cm
- Minimum 240 flying hours, including 25 hours on multi-engine
- Training to company standards on a modern fleet
What the employer asks for
- Saudi nationality
- Height between 165cm and 193cm
- Valid GACA Multi-engine Commercial Pilot Licence
- Valid GACA AIP test with a minimum score of 80%
- Valid ICAO English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) with a minimum score of Level 4
- Valid GACA First-class Medical certificate
- Minimum 240 flying hours, including 25 hours on multi-engine
- Must never have been terminated from a Saudia or Saudia Group training programme
- High-school diploma in science with a grade of 80% or above (Ministry of Education attestation required if obtained outside the Kingdom)
- Diploma or bachelor's degree in science, engineering or a related field with a minimum GPA of 2.75/4 or 3.75/5 or equivalent (Ministry of Education attestation required if obtained outside the Kingdom)
- CV, Saudi national ID, passport, education certificates and transcripts required
What the employer offers
- Training to the company's standards
- Placement to fly one of the airline's modern aircraft types
Summary written by ForAllPilots from the employer's posting. Only the official posting counts: check every condition before you apply.
Legacy national airline
Saudia at a glance
Saudi Arabia's national airline, based in Jeddah and a member of SkyTeam, linking the Kingdom with Europe, Asia and Africa and playing a central role in carrying pilgrims to Mecca and Medina.
- Bases
- Jeddah (King Abdulaziz), with Riyadh, Dammam and Medina as secondary hubs
- Fleet
- Airbus A320, A321 and A321neo, A330-300; Boeing 777-300ER, 787-9 and 787-10 (A321XLR on order)
Pilot recruitment
The Saudia Group careers site advertises a Saudia Cadet Program open to Saudi nationals only. It is not an ab initio scheme: applicants must already hold a GACA multi-engine Commercial Pilot Licence, have at least 240 flying hours including 25 on multi-engine aircraft, score at least 80% in the GACA AIP test, and hold ICAO English Level 4 and a GACA Class 1 medical, with education requirements (science secondary certificate at 80% or above, or a science or engineering degree) and a height range of 165 to 193 cm. No recruitment of experienced foreign pilots appeared in the listings consulted: check open positions on careers.saudia.com.
The Saudia 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 : low
The stages
- Technical knowledge, aptitude test, interview and simulator check to be passed, according to the airline.
- Medical with drug screening and psychometric assessment.
- Older accounts: general multiple-choice test, four-person panel, then simulator and medical in Jeddah.
The aptitude tests
- Aptitude test and psychometrics not described in detail by candidates.
The technical part
- Jeppesen approach charts and scenarios; in the simulator, steep turns, stall, ILS, go-around, VOR approach.
Candidates' tips
- Most of the information dates from before 2015: check the current campaign.
Our exercises to prepare
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.