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Cathay Pacific

Old 05-11-2010, 12:09 PM
  #11  
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FlyPurdue
US based CX pilot here. Check your PM's. Be happy to discuss the opportunity with CX.
Cheers!
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Old 05-11-2010, 12:18 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by myoface View Post
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.
One Hundred Percent Accurate.

Ask yourself this......why has CX always been a premier place to work? Because historically they paid the best and provided the best benefits to LURE THE MOST EXPERIENCED EXPATRIATES TO LIVE AND WORK IN HONG KONG. What CX is doing by opening the cadet program to everyone is a training and recruitment PARADIGM shift.

Remember three years ago, when all the regionals dropped their mins to recruit instead of increasing pay? This is CX's way of doing the same thing.

You may want to live in Hong Kong, one of the most expensive cities on earth without housing allowances. I know 1000+ HK based Cathay pilots that do not. That is why they are there. Not to get widebody time or glass time. It is too make more money than they could at home.

The new cadet program DOES NOT OFFER that. If you think 20-30K in the US is bad, 50-60K USD in Hong Kong is atrocious.

Best of luck. Oh by the way, you may want to go to pprune.org and ask a current SO how fast his three year upgrade is coming. Do not forget, that the upgrades are driven by growth and retirements. CX is growing, albeit, on a snails pace at the moment, and we have just raised the retirement age to 65 from 55 for the majority. It is a relatively young pilot group with plenty of mid 30 year old captains who started as SO's like you may. Except they get housing allowance, school allowance, and so on and so forth.

In all honesty, most CX pilots accept the locals doing this program b/c it is their only way in. But to see expats willing to do it for nothing is cringe worthy. But really who is to blame? You, a motivated young pilot like we all once were? Or a management that is willing to prey on your willingness?

Best of luck.
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Old 05-11-2010, 12:19 PM
  #13  
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All, I do not see this as a "career move" and am passionate about this industry and want to find a career i can stay with for the long haul, I apologize, if I came off as a person trying to build time, and then leaving!
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Old 05-11-2010, 12:32 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by FlyPurdue View Post
All, I do not see this as a "career move" and am passionate about this industry and want to find a career i can stay with for the long haul, I apologize, if I came off as a person trying to build time, and then leaving!
You do not need to apologize for anything in regards to your career. If you feel the need to go somewhere if even for two weeks than do it. Only one person in this industry is looking out for you and guess who that is?
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Old 05-11-2010, 12:42 PM
  #15  
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Take this opportunity and do not look back. Young, single, just out of college. You are free to suffer the "indignities" of Hong Kong on scraps. Look at it this way. You get to see the world. You fly "heavies." I cannot over-emphasize the importance of that fact. It will instantly make you more competitive for ANY airline job and qualify you for ex-pat contracts if you choose to move on. You made it through Cathay's interview (if you make it.) They are known for having the most technical, thorough, pain in the arse interview anywhere. They also have a very demanding company culture. This is not necessarily a negative, but you will have to be a consummate professional to work for Cathay and everyone knows it.

In contrast, you work for a regional. When the interviews for a major job come up and you are trying to get in on the beginning of a hiring "wave" you will be just like 10,000 other regional pilots. The earliest hires will be those with "big" airplane experience and international experience, those who have proven themselves in the type of operation they are trying to be hired into. If you go regional US, you have not set yourself apart.

Ask everyone you know in the industry how many 25 year olds have "heavy" time they know of. The number is strikingly low.

Cathay is a great career destination in itself. If you change your mind at age 30, 35, 40...then you have a resume that will get you in the door anywhere in the world you wish to fly.

This is a no brainer and if you turn it down I would never mention it again. It would reflect on your judgement and that is a major part of our job.
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Old 05-11-2010, 01:57 PM
  #16  
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Sixteen years ago, I was a turboprop captain when I took a job at a major foreign airline as a second officer. It was by far the best decision I ever made in my life. You may find that Hong Kong is not for you, but even the process of interviewing will be invaluable to your career. Start preparing now, and go into the interview with the attitude that you would love to work there. By the end of the process I'm sure that you will know if you'll be happy there. Good Luck!
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Old 05-12-2010, 10:27 AM
  #17  
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Most definitely, take the interview. Decide once the job offer has been made.

Best of luck.

Cheers
G.T.W. (CX driver)
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Old 05-12-2010, 10:50 AM
  #18  
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I just don't understand airlines.. I have 4500+ hours, 3000+ jet/fms/glass... and this guy gets a call...omfg

I have been updating my online profile twice a month for nearly a year and not a peep. Best of luck.

**EDIT** just saw it was a SO position. my rant was about a FO position
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Old 05-12-2010, 11:18 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by KiloAlpha View Post
I just don't understand airlines.. I have 4500+ hours, 3000+ jet/fms/glass... and this guy gets a call...omfg

I have been updating my online profile twice a month for nearly a year and not a peep. Best of luck.

**EDIT** just saw it was a SO position. my rant was about a FO position
Hang in there and keep updating. Cathay sees new opportunities on the horizon and another quick bit of growth is inevitable. Based on their history and I what I'm seeing now I would say DEFO hiring will commence within a year. We are overstaffed on some fleets right now but that's nothing that a net gain of 2-3 aircraft can't cure. Aircraft are operating at high load factors and yields are through the roof. I see good times ahead.

Good luck
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Old 05-13-2010, 06:48 AM
  #20  
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just don't understand airlines.. I have 4500+ hours, 3000+ jet/fms/glass... and this guy gets a call...omfg

I have been updating my online profile twice a month for nearly a year and not a peep. Best of luck.


You do not worry about it that much, I was also succ at Cathay Pacific, but because, my mum is aviation doctor she told me I need to wait a little bit. You know what, there is a huge difference between an expat and a permanent base. Then after all, I decided to fly occasionally with my capt brother due to a small minimal health defect, I can fly but again I would need really really really trying my best all the time. You must contact someone directly. Some people by the way are sticky at this blog, someone knew someone and I already had pulled a person to our European Union cockpit with an interview and training and etc,,, why would I remember it why is a person asking for it? But, I was younger. It is not a time to look back at all sometimes it is this way . I can fly occasionally shall see further on, sometimes I do not understand many things. You know what I think really, really, that people make the problems on their own.Now I wish to hear about F 14 and 16 stories. DO not worry Melu
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