At Cargolux, Flight Crew training is more than a checklist — it’s a coordinated chain where every instructor, phase, and skill builds on each other. Senior First Officer and Theoretical Knowledge Instructor François, and Captain, TRI and Line Training Commander Arnaud, share how collaboration ensures every new pilot is ready for the skies.
In aviation, every skill a pilot learns shapes their performance in the cockpit.
At Cargolux, this process begins the moment a new recruit steps through the training center doors. From the first day of theory to the final supervised flights, the journey is carefully planned where each step depends on the last.
New recruits at Cargolux are not beginners — they are already experienced pilots, often coming from regional airlines, the military, or other carriers. Most have never flown a Boeing 747 before, which means their training combines building on strong foundations with adapting to the complexity of a new aircraft type and Cargolux’s operational philosophy.
The training environment reflects this collaborative precision. Classrooms with advanced tools, fixed-base simulators for early procedures, and full-motion simulators for advanced scenarios all form part of the same ecosystem. Every instructor knows their role and how it connects to the next.
Building Knowledge on Solid Ground
For François, Senior First Officer and Theoretical Knowledge Instructor (TKI), training starts well before the first take-off. “As a TKI, I’m the first point of contact for new pilots. For the first two weeks, I’m with them every day, guiding them through aircraft systems, company procedures, and our operational philosophy,” he says. This stage blends classroom sessions with computer-based training (CBT). What makes it unique at Cargolux, François notes, is the continuous presence of an instructor. “No other airline I’ve worked with provides a TKI at your side every single day for that first phase.
We’re there to answer questions in real time, adapt explanations to different learning styles, and make sure nothing gets lost before they move on to the simulator.
Once the foundations are in place,. This is where Arnaud takes over. “When they arrive in the full-flight simulator, I can focus on flying because I know they already understand the cockpit setup and procedures. That’s thanks to the TKI’s work,” he says.
The Simulator training is spread across 12 to 14 sessions, often with two instructors, so trainees benefit from different teaching styles. Early sessions focus on normal operations, before introducing system failures, challenging weather, and emergency procedures. Each exercise is designed to prepare pilots for real-world complexity.
“Sometimes, François will inform me about an area where a trainee needs extra attention,” Arnaud explains. “That heads-up allows me to address it immediately. Without that communication, we might lose time fixing things that should have been taught earlier.”
Here, instructors also play a role beyond pure knowledge transfer. “As instructors, we’re role models,” says Arnaud. “Pilots watch not only what we teach, but how we behave. Our actions — and even our inactions — set the tone for professionalism in the cockpit.”
After passing simulator checks, trainees move into line training under supervision. Arnaud is again involved in the critical first flights. “We make sure the basics — like landing technique — are safe before we release them to Line Training Captains,” he says.
From there, pilots complete sectors across the network, gaining experience in everything from operational procedures to the small but essential details of long-haul cargo flights. At the end of this phase, a Line Check Captain assesses their readiness to operate independently.
By this point, a single pilot will have been trained by at least two TKIs, two TRIs, one examiner, and multiple captains. “Every one of us is a link in that chain,” François says. “If the previous module wasn’t fully mastered, it impacts the next. That’s why collaboration is key.”
Coaching the Cargolux Mindset
Technical skills are essential, but at Cargolux, instructors also focus on mindset. “From day one, we encourage leadership, decision-making, and self-control — qualities they’ll need as future captains at Cargolux,” says Arnaud. “A good captain manages both the aircraft and the crew. That means balanced leadership, open communication, and creating an atmosphere where the first officer feels free to speak up.” In training, this philosophy is summed up in a simple maxim: Structure beats speed. “When someone can manage time, prioritize, and keep control in any situation, I know they’re on the right path,” Arnaud adds. “And when I hear a future captain ask their first officer, ‘What do you think?’, then I know they’re ready.”
François adds that this approach supports the company’s “Can-Do” spirit. “We give pilots room to think for themselves. Procedures are there, but we also want them to find solutions, to go the extra mile when it’s safe and legal to do so.”
Pilot training itself has evolved. “There’s been a shift from a ‘checking’ mindset to a true ‘training’ philosophy,” says Arnaud. “If trainees fear making mistakes, they don’t act naturally and the learning suffers. Now, we aim to create a stress-free environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow.”
Cargolux has embraced modern methods like facilitated debriefing, where trainees evaluate their own performance with the instructor guiding the discussion. The latest step is Evidence-Based Training (EBT), which tailors learning goals to each pilot’s needs. “We observe from day one and adapt the next sessions accordingly. That evolution makes training far more effective,” Arnaud explains
Pilot training is a significant investment in both time and resources. Each phase builds resilience and skill, not just for operational success, but for safety and reputation. “We’re a high-reliability organization,” Arnaud points out. “If we released a pilot who wasn’t fully ready, the risk to flight safety and to Cargolux’s reputation would be unacceptable.”
François echoes this sentiment. “We feel our work has a direct impact. In many companies , it’s easy to feel like just a number. Here, you know your effort can help solve a problem, improve safety, and keep the operation running smoothly .”
