The Airport Authority's flight school said on Monday that a new course will put would-be pilots on the path to a career with three local airlines.

The Hong Kong International Aviation Academy will recruit about 100 trainees to its cadet pilot programme each year.

For a fee of HK$800,000, the trainees will do six months of theoretical studies in Hong Kong before spending eight months in the cockpit in the United States.

Among the requirements: they must be Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above, and must have finished secondary school with good grades in English and maths.

The academy's president, Simon Li, said deals with low-cost carriers Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express and Greater Bay Airlines will open up job opportunities.

“We have signed memorandums of understanding with these three companies respectively and their support is to provide job opportunities for our students after graduation,” Li said.

“The arrangement is that when the students are about to complete their ground theory courses, these three companies will arrange an interview for them. If they think the students are suitable for their airline, they will give them a preliminary offer,” he added.

Li said there will be a final round of interviews when the trainees are back in the SAR for their last course.

“After they’ve completed all their courses and obtained the commercial pilot licence issued by the Civil Aviation Department, they can directly enter the airline for work.”

Li also said the academy is working with Polytechnic University and the Vocational Training Council to look into developing bachelor's and master's degree programmes that provide training for commercial pilots.