Selection process · tests · interview · simulator check
Saudia pilot assessment
Updated October 2026 · SET STANDARD
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Notify meSaudia is growing to 161 aircraft in 2026 and hiring through its Saudi-national Cadet Program (re-advertised 17 Oct 2026), while expat direct entry stays largely closed under Saudization.
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Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, traces its origins to 1945, when US President Roosevelt gave King Abdulaziz a Douglas DC-3. From that single aircraft grew one of the Middle East's largest airlines, today the core of Saudia Group, which also includes the low-cost carrier flyadeal and Saudia Cargo. For a candidate, Saudia is a historic carrier in full transformation under Saudi Vision 2030: 37 million passengers in 2025, repeated world number-one punctuality rankings in 2026, the region's first A321XLR and large Airbus and Boeing orders.
Key facts
| Fleet | About 157 in 2025, 161 by end-2026: A320/A321ceo, A321neo, A321XLR, A330-300, 777-300ER, 787-9/-10 |
|---|---|
| Orders | Large backlog: A321neo (Group order of 105 A320neo family, 2024), 15 A321XLR, 787-9/-10 (39 firm + 10 options, 2023) |
| Bases | Jeddah (JED) main hub and pilot base; Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah secondary |
| Pilots | Pilot headcount not published; majority Saudi, remaining expats mainly captains (reported) |
| Hiring 2026 | Saudia Cadet Program advertised 17 Oct 2026; 12 aircraft deliveries in 2026; Group plans 185 new aircraft over coming years |
| Entry routes | Saudi national cadet (CPL(ME), 240 h); expat DE FO/Captain only through occasional, reported contract campaigns |
Entry routes and requirements
Saudia Cadet Program (open, posted 17 Oct 2026)
Saudi nationals already holding a GACA multi-engine CPL
- Saudi national (National ID and passport)
- Valid GACA CPL(A) multi-engine; minimum 240 h total incl. 25 h multi-engine
- Valid GACA AIP test, 80% minimum
- ICAO ELPT Level 4 or above
Direct entry FO / Captain (expatriate)
Non-Saudi type-rated pilots (A320, A330, B777, B787)
- No official expat vacancy on careers.saudia.com in Aug-Oct 2026
- Reported historical minima: ICAO ATPL; FO about 1,500 h; Captain about 5,000 h with recent type PIC time; ICAO English Level 5+
- GACA licence validation and Class 1 medical
The selection process, step by step
- Online applicationonline (careers.saudia.com)
Application with every mandatory attachment; automatic elimination if one is missing.
- Aptitude / psychometric assessmentcomputer-based, in person in Jeddah (reported)
Reported cognitive tests (maths, spatial, multitasking) and a personality questionnaire; Saudia Group has used Symbiotics ADAPT for cadet screening (Oxford Saudia, 2019).
- Simulator assessmentin person, Saudia Academy Jeddah (reported)
Instrument flying check on a training device; Saudia Academy ran ALSIM cadet refresher sessions in June 2026 to prepare candidates for upcoming assessments.
- Interviewpanel: captain/training pilot plus HR (reported)
Motivation, Saudia knowledge, competency-based questions and technical basics.
- Medical and background checksin person
GACA First-class medical and security/background clearance before an offer.
Aptitude and psychometric tests
- GACA AIP (prerequisite, 80%)
- GACA ELPT (prerequisite, Level 4+)
- aptitude/psychometric (reported)
- personality questionnaire (reported)
GACA (AIP, ELPT prerequisites) · Symbiotics ADAPT (used by Saudia Group cadet screening, reported)
The interview
Panel with a Saudia captain/training pilot and HR (reported)
- motivation for Saudia
- airline knowledge
- CRM and teamwork
- integrity and discipline
Typical questions to prepare
- Why do you want to fly for Saudia?
- Why Saudia and not flynas, flyadeal or Riyadh Air?
- What do you know about Saudia's history?
- Describe Saudia's fleet.
- What is the role of Saudia Group?
- How does Vision 2030 affect Saudia?
The simulator assessment
| Device | Cadets: training device/FNPT at Saudia Academy (ALSIM used for refreshers, reported). Rated pilots: A320 or B777 FFS (reported) |
|---|---|
| Where | Saudia Academy, Jeddah |
| Typical profile | Not published; reported raw-data instrument flying, holding, ILS/NPA, engine failure for rated pilots |
Language and after selection
ICAO English Level 4+ via GACA ELPT; Arabic implicit for Saudi nationals.
Ground school and type rating at Saudia Academy, Jeddah (FFS centre incl. five A320neo simulators since 2024), then line training on the assigned fleet (A320/A321neo most likely for new cadets); seniority-based progression.
Common reasons candidates fail
- Incomplete or unattested documents, which eliminate the application automatically
- Expired AIP, ELPT or medical by the assessment date
- Weak raw-data instrument flying in the sim (no scan, no trim, late holding entry)
- Poor English fluency under pressure in the interview
- Shallow airline knowledge: wrong fleet, no idea of the 2026 news or Vision 2030
Get the complete Saudia Assessment Guide
215 pages: company history and culture, every stage of the selection, model interview answers, technical refresher, Airbus A320 family / Boeing 777 / 787 systems and simulator assessment preparation. Updated for 2026.
Look inside the guideStatus: Preview · current to October 2026 · not on sale yet · join the waiting list
About this guide
- Format
- PDF (bookmarked, iPad-optimised)
- Language
- English
- Edition
- Ed 2026 · Revision 1.0
- Current to
- October 2026
- Pages
- 215
- Status
- Preview · not on sale yet
- Licence
- Personal, single user · see licence terms
- Updates
- Update policy to be announced before sales open
- Simulator stage
- Covered as reported by candidates and public sources
Independent publication. Facts in this overview are labelled “reported” when they come from candidate reports rather than official sources — see the editorial standards. Notify me about this guide · See it in the catalogue
Practice questions: company knowledge
Interview practice drawn from public sources; the answers are not an FAQ about the guide.
What aircraft started Saudia's history in 1945?
A Douglas DC-3 (HZ-AAX) given by President Roosevelt to King Abdulaziz
When was Saudia's first scheduled flight?
14 March 1947, a domestic service
When did Saudia join SkyTeam?
2012
Who is Director General of Saudia Group?
Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar
Where are Saudia's headquarters and main hub?
Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport
How many passengers did Saudia carry in 2025?
About 37 million, up 6%
Preparation guides
Other airline assessments
Main sources
https://careers.saudia.com/job/Saudia-Cadet-Program-02/857339423/
https://afm.aero/saudia-academy-highlights-2026-pilot-cadet-alsim-refresher-offering
https://rotatepilot.com/airlines/saudia/recruitment
https://readyfortakeoffbook.com/blogs/pilot-conditions/saudia
https://www.pprune.org/middle-east/646539-expats-still-saudia.html
SET STANDARD is an independent training publisher, not affiliated with Saudia. Information compiled from public sources and candidate reports; always confirm with the airline’s official careers page.