Transport CATI & Thai Airways Launch New Pilot Class

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

The Civil Aviation Training Institute (CATI) has officially launched the orientation ceremony for the 127th class of its Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) – Aircraft programme, marking a step in developing Thailand’s next generation of professional pilots.

 

A total of 28 trainee pilots, selected as cadets of Thai Airways Public Company Limited, attended the ceremony on 25 August at CATI headquarters in Bangkok. Ms. Paknatt Makchuay, Director-General of the institute, presided over the event on behalf of Ms. Monporn Charoensri, Deputy Minister of Transport. Also in attendance were Captain Jet Muangkrut, Director of Flight Operations at Thai Airways, alongside senior executives from both organisations, faculty members and the student pilots.

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Paknatt emphasised that the launch of the 127th CPL class represents a milestone in producing high-quality personnel for Thailand’s aviation industry. She highlighted that CATI has been entrusted by Thai Airways to train student pilots under the 2025 fiscal year programme, which will see a total of 56 trainees develop the skills necessary to meet industry standards and demands.

 

“The collaboration between CATI and Thai Airways is a strategic initiative to prepare skilled aviation personnel, supporting the expansion of Thai Airways’ fleet over the next five to ten years,” she said. The trainee pilots will undergo 70 weeks of intensive training at the CATI Flight Training Centre in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, covering both theoretical and practical modules in accordance with international standards recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

 

Under government policy, and particularly the Ministry of Transport’s vision led by Deputy Minister Monporn Charoensri, Thailand is positioning itself as a regional aviation hub. This includes budget allocations to enhance CATI’s facilities and infrastructure, providing modern training equipment and replacing older aircraft in its training fleet through 2027. These developments aim to ensure CATI remains a state-of-the-art aviation school capable of producing highly competent civil pilots to support the national airline and the broader aviation industry.

 

Ms. Paknatt further stressed the importance of safety and discipline, saying, “Safety always comes first. Student pilots must adhere strictly to safety standards during training and in operational duties. Discipline and respect for rules are the pillars of a pilot’s profession, ensuring precision, reliability, and leadership in challenging situations.”

 

CATI’s CPL – Aircraft programme, certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, provides comprehensive ground and flight training. As the country’s first state aviation school with over 64 years of history, it equips pilots to meet ICAO standards and confidently attain their Commercial Pilot Licences. Thai Airways’ continued trust in sending cadets to CATI underscores the institute’s capacity to produce skilled personnel who will help propel Thailand’s aviation industry towards becoming the ASEAN aviation hub.

 

The orientation ceremony not only marks the beginning of a new cohort of pilots but also reinforces the sustainable partnership between CATI and Thai Airways, aimed at strengthening Thailand’s position in the global aviation sector.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-08-27