Like Kenny said, NO chance with a CFI background, there's just too many "more" qualified candidates CX can choose from. Though I don't think the jet vs. t-prop matters much, as long as your total is close to 3k, and ~1000 turbine. I got on with less than 3k total, 34 yrs, no turbine PIC, a mix of 121 t-prop and jet, but had an internal reference (though don't know how much that carries weight).

Keep flying what you can, and if you really want CX, and I believe it is one of the few really desirable airlines to work for, steer towards that t-prop/jet as much as possible. Your mgmt skills and background will come in handy for the interview, but you still need the flight experience to get the call.

Good luck!


FF

Thanks for the encouragement guys. CX is a long term goal. It i a career destination airline. I get the impression from many sources that it is much easier for non-Americans to get hired there. Is that because of the perception that so many American pilots are arrogant, or does it have to do with the difference between the FAA ATP written and the JAA ATPL writtens (all 14 of them)?
To gain experience, I would love to go to a respectable regional for a few years, I think I would learn a lot and it would be an awesome time if I had the right attitude. But if there was a more affordable way to get turbine PIC, I would prefer that. I guess if there WAS a more affordable way, everyone would be doing it!
So it seems that the conventional wisdom is that I will need at least 3000 total time with at least 1000 turbine PIC. So have suggested that turbine PIC of a Beech 1900, Twin Otter, or 50 seat regional jet is not large enough?
Thanks again, everyone.

From looking around I get the impression more that it is familiarity than anything else. For a long time there have been a lot of Brits and Aussies at the company. As other nationalities came in over the years, there was more tolerance. Most of those nationalities did things in a similar way so there wasn't much difference. Then they recruited a lot of Canadians and they became the "problem children" because things were a lot different. Now we come along and are even more different than the Canadians so there is adjustment. We are the new guys so it takes time to get used to each other, from terminology to slang and even sports. As more of us come in to the company it will get better.

The reason I see mainly for the experience difference is when they recruit here, they have thousands of apps with jet time so that sets the standard on this continent. I also get the idea that what we make up for our perceived lack in book work with real world experience. Mixing all of these makes for a well rounded pilot group. They tend to not recruit the same in each area of the world. They break it down to areas and look at experience levels from each individual area. The area most on this board are in is N. America and that carries the higher time requirements due to the competition. When all of the majors were hiring and the competition's experience level dropped, so did ours. Supply and demand in the market is as much in play for the job hunt as it is at the gas pump.

Go and get the best experience you can so you'll be ready when it turns again. There is no real shortcut, just have to gut it out until the timing is better. The question then becomes, are you willing to wait? For many, they are willing but can't wait that long due to family and bills etc.

That is my concern right now. Thanks for the input. Hope to see you in a few years. :)

Proskuneho,

That question opens a whole can of worms that probably should be left well alone.

CX has been a "Colonial" run company pretty much since it's inception. (Yes, I know about Roy but he sold his interest to Sid not long after they started CX). Anyway, because of that and the general reluctance of most US pilots to consider CX in the same light as say, AA, UAL or NWA, they've not historically employed American pilots.

BTW, that 1000 Turbine doesn't necessarily need to be PIC.

I understand that most American pilots want to stay in the US and therefore want AA, UAL, DAL, etc. But I am not in that category. Studying other cultures and learning foreign languages is a hobby of mine. I majored in ancient languages in college. I took French and Latin in high school. My wife and I taught English to Russian immigrants when we lived in Chicago, and I learned a little Russian. I want to learn more. My point is, my wife and I want to see the world. We want to explore and understand other cultures. I want to be multi-lingual. We WANT to live overseas for at least a few years.
I would not turn my nose at AA, UAL, DAL, etc, but CX seems much more interesting.

RYGuy,
Where you based? I'm JFK mostly doing JFK-ANC-HKG and reverse. Probably bumped into you at the Sheraton..

Cheers,
Xdriver

Check your PM

All recruitment is stopping immediately (with the exception of cadet S/Os), unpaid leave of up to 30 days being offered to current pilots. New company budget for 2009 shows a pilot excess of 5%.

FO

So earliest SO classdates (other than the few lucky CCP's) will be offered then after 2009, and DEFOs even later than that, if we are lucky.

Well that sets the tone nicely for the holidays...


FF