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Brussels Airlines cadet programme: Skywings presentation
Original title: Pieter Brantegem «Brussels Airlines Cadet Program with Skywings»
PILOT EXPO · 18:48 · 9 Mar 2026 · Watch on YouTube

Representatives from Skywings and Brussels Airlines outline their joint MPL cadet programme. They detail the selection process and career progression.

What the video covers

Written in our own words. It only describes what the video shows and says.

Brussels Airlines and programme overview

The presentation introduces a multi-crew pilot licence cadet programme organised by Skywings Flight Training and Brussels Airlines. The airline is part of the Lufthansa Group with over 3,500 employees and a cockpit crew community of around 630 pilots. The presenters note that ten percent of these pilots are female. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet that includes the A319, A320, A320neo, and A330. The training programme focuses on multi-pilot flying from the start and prepares cadets specifically for the Airbus A320 family. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, hold a secondary school diploma, possess a blank criminal record, and have the right to live and study in the European Union. They must also speak English and either Dutch or French.

Selection procedure and training phases

The selection process involves multiple stages divided between the flight school and the airline. Skywings conducts the technical screening, which includes mathematics, physics, English, and a compass test to assess motor skills. Brussels Airlines handles the human resources portion with online personality and cognitive tests, followed by an interview with a flight operations representative and a psychologist. Candidates also participate in a group exercise to evaluate their teamwork abilities. Successful applicants then complete a simulator work sample test at Skywings. A joint selection board chooses the top candidates to begin training. The course lasts between 19 and 22 months. It starts with nine months of theoretical instruction in Antwerp. The practical phase begins with three months of single-engine flying on Diamond DA40 aircraft in Spain. Cadets then return to Belgium for instrument rating training on an Airbus A320 simulator, followed by type rating and base training with the airline.

Career progression and financial requirements

Upon graduation, Brussels Airlines has a five-year window to employ the cadets as first officers on the short and medium-haul fleet. After approximately seven years, pilots can upgrade to captain on the A320 or become a first officer on the A330 long-haul fleet. The final career step is becoming an A330 captain. The programme costs 99,500 euros, payable in three instalments. This fee covers the training modules, an iPad, and accommodation in Spain. It does not include landing fees, which range from 2,000 to 3,000 euros, nor does it cover the medical certificate, food in Spain, or transport and accommodation in Belgium. Applications for new courses open annually around the end of September.

Statements in the video

2:42Brussels Airlines currently has over 3,500 employees.The captain states this while providing a company overview and discussing the airline's ongoing expansion within the Lufthansa Group.
5:09The MPL forms a triangle between Skywings, Brussels Airlines, and the Airbus A320 family.The flight school representative uses this description to explain how the training is specifically tailored for multi-pilot operations at the airline.
12:51The MPL training takes approximately 19 to 22 months to complete.The flight school chief executive officer mentions this timeframe when outlining the practical and theoretical phases of the training course.

Moments from the video

0:00“Okay, good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for being here today on the information session about the MPL CADET program that we do together with Brussels Airlines. My name is Peter. I'm the CEO of Skywings Flight Training based here in Antwerp. And these are,…”3:18“Our cockpit crew community at this time is around 630, almost equally balanced between captains and first officers. And we have at this time, and this is the highest number within the Lufthansa Group companies, about 10% of all our pilots are female pilots.…”5:27“The whole training is designed to really be around that multi-pilot flying. So you are being prepared for your career at a specific airline, which is Brussels Airlines, from day one. You work with their procedures and so on and so forth. It's very heavy…”7:49“So on the Brussels Airlines website, you will see under jobs, you will see an open vacancy for MPL candidates. You apply through that MPL candidate program. You will upload a number of documentations, your letter of motivation, your CV, your blank criminal…”9:55“As I said, Skywings technical part, Compass Test, Maths and Physics, and English. At Brussels Airlines, you will be undertaking, first of all, two online tests. It's a personality testing where we get a personality profile of yourself to see who you are, what…”12:20“In fact, it depends on the number of people we need. If we need 15 people or we need 20 people, we take the 20 best. It's clear. The 20 best candidates are going to start their training within the program. So start of the training is each year, let's say…”15:06“If you choose the path to become first first officer on the A330 fleet, the next step is to become captain and at Brussels Airlines you start to be captain on the medium and short haul fleet, so back on the A320. The last step in the career path as an airline…”17:17“Yes, as already said by Jeremy, each year around Sanicole Airshow, so by the end of September, we open a new vacancy for a next promotion. The selections are held between the opening of the vacancy and most typically the Eastern holidays. Then around May in…”

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Brussels Airlines cadet programme: Skywings presentation

Original title: Pieter Brantegem «Brussels Airlines Cadet Program with Skywings»
PILOT EXPO · 18:48 · 9 Mar 2026 · Watch on YouTube

Representatives from Skywings and Brussels Airlines outline their joint MPL cadet programme. They detail the selection process and career progression.

IN THIS VIDEO
  1. 0:00Introduction to the cadet programme
  2. 0:28Brussels Airlines fleet and company overview
  3. 6:36Programme requirements and selection process
  4. 12:51Training phases and career progression
  5. 15:51Course costs and financing options
  6. 17:17Application timeline for upcoming courses

What the video covers

Written in our own words. It only describes what the video shows and says.

Brussels Airlines and programme overview

The presentation introduces a multi-crew pilot licence cadet programme organised by Skywings Flight Training and Brussels Airlines. The airline is part of the Lufthansa Group with over 3,500 employees and a cockpit crew community of around 630 pilots. The presenters note that ten percent of these pilots are female. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet that includes the A319, A320, A320neo, and A330. The training programme focuses on multi-pilot flying from the start and prepares cadets specifically for the Airbus A320 family. Applicants must be at least 17 years old, hold a secondary school diploma, possess a blank criminal record, and have the right to live and study in the European Union. They must also speak English and either Dutch or French.

Selection procedure and training phases

The selection process involves multiple stages divided between the flight school and the airline. Skywings conducts the technical screening, which includes mathematics, physics, English, and a compass test to assess motor skills. Brussels Airlines handles the human resources portion with online personality and cognitive tests, followed by an interview with a flight operations representative and a psychologist. Candidates also participate in a group exercise to evaluate their teamwork abilities. Successful applicants then complete a simulator work sample test at Skywings. A joint selection board chooses the top candidates to begin training. The course lasts between 19 and 22 months. It starts with nine months of theoretical instruction in Antwerp. The practical phase begins with three months of single-engine flying on Diamond DA40 aircraft in Spain. Cadets then return to Belgium for instrument rating training on an Airbus A320 simulator, followed by type rating and base training with the airline.

Career progression and financial requirements

Upon graduation, Brussels Airlines has a five-year window to employ the cadets as first officers on the short and medium-haul fleet. After approximately seven years, pilots can upgrade to captain on the A320 or become a first officer on the A330 long-haul fleet. The final career step is becoming an A330 captain. The programme costs 99,500 euros, payable in three instalments. This fee covers the training modules, an iPad, and accommodation in Spain. It does not include landing fees, which range from 2,000 to 3,000 euros, nor does it cover the medical certificate, food in Spain, or transport and accommodation in Belgium. Applications for new courses open annually around the end of September.

Statements in the video

2:42Brussels Airlines currently has over 3,500 employees.The captain states this while providing a company overview and discussing the airline's ongoing expansion within the Lufthansa Group.
5:09The MPL forms a triangle between Skywings, Brussels Airlines, and the Airbus A320 family.The flight school representative uses this description to explain how the training is specifically tailored for multi-pilot operations at the airline.
12:51The MPL training takes approximately 19 to 22 months to complete.The flight school chief executive officer mentions this timeframe when outlining the practical and theoretical phases of the training course.

Moments from the video

0:00“Okay, good afternoon, everybody. Thanks for being here today on the information session about the MPL CADET program that we do together with Brussels Airlines. My name is Peter. I'm the CEO of Skywings Flight Training based here in Antwerp. And these are,…”3:18“Our cockpit crew community at this time is around 630, almost equally balanced between captains and first officers. And we have at this time, and this is the highest number within the Lufthansa Group companies, about 10% of all our pilots are female pilots.…”5:27“The whole training is designed to really be around that multi-pilot flying. So you are being prepared for your career at a specific airline, which is Brussels Airlines, from day one. You work with their procedures and so on and so forth. It's very heavy…”7:49“So on the Brussels Airlines website, you will see under jobs, you will see an open vacancy for MPL candidates. You apply through that MPL candidate program. You will upload a number of documentations, your letter of motivation, your CV, your blank criminal…”9:55“As I said, Skywings technical part, Compass Test, Maths and Physics, and English. At Brussels Airlines, you will be undertaking, first of all, two online tests. It's a personality testing where we get a personality profile of yourself to see who you are, what…”12:20“In fact, it depends on the number of people we need. If we need 15 people or we need 20 people, we take the 20 best. It's clear. The 20 best candidates are going to start their training within the program. So start of the training is each year, let's say…”15:06“If you choose the path to become first first officer on the A330 fleet, the next step is to become captain and at Brussels Airlines you start to be captain on the medium and short haul fleet, so back on the A320. The last step in the career path as an airline…”17:17“Yes, as already said by Jeremy, each year around Sanicole Airshow, so by the end of September, we open a new vacancy for a next promotion. The selections are held between the opening of the vacancy and most typically the Eastern holidays. Then around May in…”
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