Cathay Pacific culture--is it really so?
10-07-2008, 10:46 AM
#31
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,045
Originally Posted by EK Birdcage
Just remember, the Brits and the Aussies invented flying..(on the same day I guess!) If you were confused about that, just ask them!
Wright brothers who??
Wright brothers who??
The feeling among many overseas pilots is that they don't like the FAA ATP. They know that the FAA ATP is kids stuff compared to what they had to go through.
AL
10-10-2008, 09:58 PM
#32
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.
Posts: 5,709
Originally Posted by alvrb211
I think the first flight took place in France. In a balloon!
The feeling among many overseas pilots is that they don't like the FAA ATP. They know that the FAA ATP is kids stuff compared to what they had to go through.
AL
The feeling among many overseas pilots is that they don't like the FAA ATP. They know that the FAA ATP is kids stuff compared to what they had to go through.
AL
YouTube - Airbus A320 Plane Crash
10-11-2008, 03:01 AM
#33
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Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: The Far Side
Posts: 968
The feeling among many overseas pilots is that they don't like the FAA ATP. They know that the FAA ATP is kids stuff compared to what they had to go through.
The YouTube video is a "blast from the past" . Bonehead stunts know no national boundaries.
10-11-2008, 07:34 PM
#35
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Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.
Posts: 5,709
Originally Posted by nathanexplosion
I can give you my personal experience, but keep in mind it's just my opionion.
I started at CX as a DEFO thinking I had reached my career company. Two years later I was quite happy to leave. I never failed an RT/PC or a line check (all three legs of it), but in my OPINION it's a very unpleasant airline culture generally speaking. Checking and training are particularly unpleasant.
There was a lot of anti-americanism when I was there, but I've heard it's been dialed back. A direct quote from the B744 program manager when I received my RPIC (Relief Pilot in Command) checkout, "You North Americans do fine between Anchorage and Hong Kong, but when you come to the pax fleet, the wheels fall off."
I started at CX as a DEFO thinking I had reached my career company. Two years later I was quite happy to leave. I never failed an RT/PC or a line check (all three legs of it), but in my OPINION it's a very unpleasant airline culture generally speaking. Checking and training are particularly unpleasant.
There was a lot of anti-americanism when I was there, but I've heard it's been dialed back. A direct quote from the B744 program manager when I received my RPIC (Relief Pilot in Command) checkout, "You North Americans do fine between Anchorage and Hong Kong, but when you come to the pax fleet, the wheels fall off."
Same as above with that ATP comment. The safety statistics simply do not indicate that their is a problem with the FAA ATP vs an JAR ATP.
If you are judging the ability of a pilot based solely on the dificulty or length ATP written test you have your priorities all wrong.
10-11-2008, 07:44 PM
#36
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Joined APC: Aug 2008
Position: Enjoying the view
Posts: 407
Cathay is a long term goal for me. (I should have the published mins for DESO this month, but I know it will be years before I can earn an interview). So, I have a few questions:
1. Anyone on this forum who works at CX have any idea of how many American pilots are based in Hong Kong?
2. I hear rumors of a community of pilot villas, is that true?
3. What is family life like for Second Officers?
4. What is the schedule like?
5. Does anyone live on Lantau Island? I hear that downtown Hong Kong is rather polluted, as are many Chinese cities.
1. Anyone on this forum who works at CX have any idea of how many American pilots are based in Hong Kong?
2. I hear rumors of a community of pilot villas, is that true?
3. What is family life like for Second Officers?
4. What is the schedule like?
5. Does anyone live on Lantau Island? I hear that downtown Hong Kong is rather polluted, as are many Chinese cities.
10-14-2008, 09:11 AM
#37
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: B757/767 FO
Posts: 51
[quote=proskuneho;477583]Cathay is a long term goal for me. (I should have the published mins for DESO this month, but I know it will be years before I can earn an interview). So, I have a few questions:
I am based in the US but I will give it a shot.
1. Anyone on this forum who works at CX have any idea of how many American pilots are based in Hong Kong?
There are approximately 250 Americans working at Cathay, most are based here in NA. I can guess about 50 that I know of in HK.
2. I hear rumors of a community of pilot villas, is that true?
Most Expats live in Discovery Bay, but some due live in Hong Kong around the Midlevels, and yes really polluted and expect to develop asthma in your first year there
3. What is family life like for Second Officers?
The SO's only fly ULH so lots of time off. Many spend their time travelling the world. Usually get about 20 days off /month
4. What is the schedule like?
My sched. this month has me working 9 days.. But the average is usually around 15 days/month. Lots of time off
5. Does anyone live on Lantau Island? I hear that downtown Hong Kong is rather polluted, as are many Chinese cities.[/quote
As said before, check out Disovery Bay, Tung Chung is another spot near the airport on Lantau with shopping and access to public transportation.
I am based in the US but I will give it a shot.
1. Anyone on this forum who works at CX have any idea of how many American pilots are based in Hong Kong?
There are approximately 250 Americans working at Cathay, most are based here in NA. I can guess about 50 that I know of in HK.
2. I hear rumors of a community of pilot villas, is that true?
Most Expats live in Discovery Bay, but some due live in Hong Kong around the Midlevels, and yes really polluted and expect to develop asthma in your first year there
3. What is family life like for Second Officers?
The SO's only fly ULH so lots of time off. Many spend their time travelling the world. Usually get about 20 days off /month
4. What is the schedule like?
My sched. this month has me working 9 days.. But the average is usually around 15 days/month. Lots of time off
5. Does anyone live on Lantau Island? I hear that downtown Hong Kong is rather polluted, as are many Chinese cities.[/quote
As said before, check out Disovery Bay, Tung Chung is another spot near the airport on Lantau with shopping and access to public transportation.
10-14-2008, 03:58 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Position: Enjoying the view
Posts: 407
Thank you cessnaxdriver -
I really appreciate your response.
What career path do you suggest will best prepare me to meet Cathay expectations and standards for the Second Officer program?
CX has been my goal since I decided to leave management, almost two years ago. I have have been instructing for the last year and a half. As I said before, I should reach about 1000 hrs this month with around 200 multi. I am well aware that Cathay does not actually hire pilots with only the posted minimums. What route do you think is best?
Is there an age limit? I am about to turn 34. The website says "age commensurate with experience..." While I do not have a huge amount of flight time, I do have a decade of management experience - 5 of those years managing flight schools. I am also working on an MBA in International Business as a backup plan. Will that help or hurt on my resume?
Anyone else willing to chime in, please do!
Thanks again, everyone.
I really appreciate your response.
What career path do you suggest will best prepare me to meet Cathay expectations and standards for the Second Officer program?
CX has been my goal since I decided to leave management, almost two years ago. I have have been instructing for the last year and a half. As I said before, I should reach about 1000 hrs this month with around 200 multi. I am well aware that Cathay does not actually hire pilots with only the posted minimums. What route do you think is best?
Is there an age limit? I am about to turn 34. The website says "age commensurate with experience..." While I do not have a huge amount of flight time, I do have a decade of management experience - 5 of those years managing flight schools. I am also working on an MBA in International Business as a backup plan. Will that help or hurt on my resume?
Anyone else willing to chime in, please do!
Thanks again, everyone.
10-14-2008, 04:40 PM
#39
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: B757/767 FO
Posts: 51
Right now, most SO's are getting in with around 2000 hours and 500 turbine time, several regional guys and some 737 guys. Your best bet for a career path if really interested is to get as much turbine PIC time and keep UPDATING your app every six months. It will show interest and they will like that. I know they are still training SO's but with the Boeing strike and deliveries stalled, not expecting much over the next couple of months. You are definitely still young, my friend was hired at 45 so you have lots of time. Although I hold a Master's in Engineering and a MBA, I left that off as I was not sure how they view advanced education. I really don't think it matters. I say just keep building the flight time and keep updating your application.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Originally Posted by proskuneho
Thank you cessnaxdriver -
I really appreciate your response.
What career path do you suggest will best prepare me to meet Cathay expectations and standards for the Second Officer program?
CX has been my goal since I decided to leave management, almost two years ago. I have have been instructing for the last year and a half. As I said before, I should reach about 1000 hrs this month with around 200 multi. I am well aware that Cathay does not actually hire pilots with only the posted minimums. What route do you think is best?
Is there an age limit? I am about to turn 34. The website says "age commensurate with experience..." While I do not have a huge amount of flight time, I do have a decade of management experience - 5 of those years managing flight schools. I am also working on an MBA in International Business as a backup plan. Will that help or hurt on my resume?
Anyone else willing to chime in, please do!
Thanks again, everyone.
I really appreciate your response.
What career path do you suggest will best prepare me to meet Cathay expectations and standards for the Second Officer program?
CX has been my goal since I decided to leave management, almost two years ago. I have have been instructing for the last year and a half. As I said before, I should reach about 1000 hrs this month with around 200 multi. I am well aware that Cathay does not actually hire pilots with only the posted minimums. What route do you think is best?
Is there an age limit? I am about to turn 34. The website says "age commensurate with experience..." While I do not have a huge amount of flight time, I do have a decade of management experience - 5 of those years managing flight schools. I am also working on an MBA in International Business as a backup plan. Will that help or hurt on my resume?
Anyone else willing to chime in, please do!
Thanks again, everyone.
10-14-2008, 05:10 PM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Position: Enjoying the view
Posts: 407
Originally Posted by cessnaxdriver
Right now, most SO's are getting in with around 2000 hours and 500 turbine time, several regional guys and some 737 guys. Your best bet for a career path if really interested is to get as much turbine PIC time and keep UPDATING your app every six months. It will show interest and they will like that. I know they are still training SO's but with the Boeing strike and deliveries stalled, not expecting much over the next couple of months. You are definitely still young, my friend was hired at 45 so you have lots of time. Although I hold a Master's in Engineering and a MBA, I left that off as I was not sure how they view advanced education. I really don't think it matters. I say just keep building the flight time and keep updating your application.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
About getting turbine PIC - does Cathay care how large the aircraft is? What if I got hired to fly boxes in a Caravan? I heard a rumor that CX only cares about turbine PIC in a multi-engine jet aircraft weighing at least 50,000 pounds?
Thanks!
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