FlyPurdue

Hi All,

I am new to this forum. I will be graduating from Purdue University in December of this year, and just yesterday was contacted by Cathay Pacific, to interview for a position of Second Officer via the Cadet Pilot route. It appears they will pay for everything, and in 12 months, I will be a second officer on a widebody. Now, before I am told to use the search function, I have. I have looked all over this forum, PPrune's Fragrant Harbor site, and I have exhausted all web resources. Do we have any Cathay Employees on this board? Does anybody know if its really that bad? Currently I have north of 500 hours, and 200 of that is instruction. Right now, It looks like regionals might be an option, but a self made time line has me becoming FO in 5 years, on Cathay. In the very least, I would be building heavy jet, xc time, and getting international experience.

What are your thought?

Thanks!

rotorhead1026

Very interesting. How did you get the contact? Did they solicit your entire graduating class, screen and contact some of your class, or was this "out of the blue"? Or, do you just know somebody?

And, is it Cathay proper, or a recruiting agency?

You'll have to balance the contract terms against what might be a very interesting and valuable experience. I don't know much about CX, but I do know a bit about Asia as well as expat contracts (along with many others on this forum). What you might do is post the terms and conditions quoted (if any) and filter the comments. Hopefully somebody who works for CX will post soon.

Your post stuck out because my oldest boy was graduated from Purdue a couple of years ago. He was smart, though - mechanical engineer.

Seriously, I hope this is all that it seems at this point - a terrific opportunity.

12th Man

I don't work for Cathay, but I know several who do, and I see and meet their pilots as I fly around the world. It's a top-drawer, rigorous & standardized training program, they fly modern, relatively new, all-glass wide-bodies, and they give you the chance to see the world.

Ask yourself why you want to be a pilot. Do you want to sit at the gate in, say, Oklahoma City, look over at your captain while he's eating pilfered instant-oatmeal from the Holiday Inn Express and think, "Woo-hoo! Next stop: Shreveport!!", or do you want to start out on a -400 flying from HKG; wondering if you're going to have schnitzel or rolladen tonight in Frankfurt?

Should you end up disliking it or wanting to move back to West Lafayette, the fact that you made it through their training program, your 747-400 or A340 SIC time, and your considerable international operating experience will be more meaningful to any prospective employer than thousands of hours flying a Saab between Muscle Shoals & Tupelo.

This is a no-brainer: in my mind's eye, there's absolutely no question but to take the position at Cathay.

JUG47

This is a great opportunity. Take it if it is offered.
Not many airlines offer this chance anymore. I know several CX drivers and they have progessed up the ladder nicely since the early-mid 90's.
I have lived in Asia and loved it. Not sure how basing works at CX anymore, but boeing drivers used to be able to pick from several bases worldwide.
I have also worked for US regionals. Do everything do avoid that path, it's depressing.
Airlines are not the same anymore as you can tell from these forums and CX has not escaped unscathed either, but it is certainly one of the better places left.
Congrats & Best of luck to you!

tzadik

couldnt agree more with taking this over regionals but ive done a little research and have discovered that potentialy they might want you to instruct at said academy before you go to the airline. something to look into.

Flyby1206

Last I heard they were just looking for locals to do the cadet program, I didnt know they were hiring ex-pats again. I had a SO interview scheduled for Oct 2008 but it was canceled 2 weeks prior and all hiring stopped. Apparently, I was to be put in a hiring pool when they resumed.

FlyPurdue

Thanks all, I applied back around January 1, and did not think I would ever here any thing, then I got an email yesterday, letting me know that I had been selected to go to stage one of the interview 4 stages. Rotorhead, this is the real Cathay, not an outside hiring agency. I have read much negativity regarding the way of life for a SO, but personally I find it exciting, and am willing to make sacrifices to succeed in aviation. They began to hire expatriates such as myself in june of last year.

myoface

Word of caution....read the fine print with regards to the Cadet program. I think you give up all housing allowances and maybe schooling allowances as well. Not to familier with the new cadet program, but I understand it has changed alot....and not for the better.

Smash312

Don't ask questions, just go to Cathay if you get though the interviews. Do yourself a big favor. Study hard and don't you dare worry about when you'll become FO or Captain. You're coming fresh out of college, no wife or kids (I'm assuming) - no brainier. A lot of people a LOT more experienced than you would take it. Consider yourself lucky and BEST OF LUCK!

Laxrox43

Just an FYI, Cathay is not a company that you work for to "build experience" and move on. It is a career position. So if your intentions are to build time and leave, don't bother interviewing. Leave room in the company for those who have dreamt of working there their whole lives. Thank you.

Lax