MK was back in the air the following week; did they stop again? Their new financiers were also talking about 744's for them.

Bummer about Jett8. It does make me wonder who the heck they are getting.

The Olympics are over in a couple of months, so I am curious as to why they would stop recruiting. The B744 type takes six weeks, and mine starts in three, so the time line is really not a problem.

I went in with a bunch of 777 time, which frankly is more similar to the 744 than the classic (I'm also rated on the classic). There is no money up front and though they did require a bank bond in the past, they now only require that you sign the normal training bond, pro-rated over three years. I should mention that they do want a fair bit of part 121 command time, and that could perhaps be a sticker for some. Also, a lack of glass time is becoming a problem, or so it would appear.

I have to say that so far my guy's have been very easy to deal with. I had my own handler and was put up in a nice furnished apartment for the duration of exams and medicals (two of each). As far as beauracracies, I've found the Chinese CAAC and Consulate people to be not only friendly, but as or more efficient than the western ones that I have dealt with.

Which contract agency are you dealing with? I have found that it can be not only the agency, but also the specific recruiter that can make or break even getting a contract.

I think that if you keep looking you will find after the Olympics the hiring picks up quite quickly. Right now many of the big airlines think there will be a plethora of Americans with all sorts of time and in their 30's desperate for jobs; they always do this, and they always end up with a shortage.