Airline Pilot Central Forums - Cathay Pacific Initial Interview

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jet Fuel FL410 (Post 1023270)

Well that's much better then CX. Thanks for the comparison.

And we think ours is totally lacking.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastV1 (Post 1023272)

And we think ours is totally lacking.......

Yep, it is lacking. At the "old" CX one would easily have HK$50,000-60,000/mo for housing, as Second Officer. FDX's 34k is a start, yet with a real and likely chance to eventually make it back State side, and considering FDX's reputation overall, I think it is acceptable.

CX's 10k/mo otoh, is insulting. Add insult to injury, there is absolutely no guarantee you'd ever make it back to your base. With no effective union to enforce terms&conditions, seniority etc. you are at the whim of management (ok, same applies more or less to most airlines); years back I would've taken the risk of some "flexibility" in the contract as the compensation was worth it. Not today, as CX's hiring practices seem to align more and more with its Big Brother up North.

For someone starry-eyed, single and young, the current offer is probably a very tough call. One with half-a-brain and a family, not so much.

There is nothing that brings more of a chuckle amongst ex pat pilots talking about opportunities in the market than when CX is mentioned as an option. Don't get me wrong it is a great company and their pilots are compensated well (those who already are captains or senior F/O's that is) but unless you are a young Honk Kong Chinese starting on this career or a young kid that doesn't mind investing 10 years just to become a first officer while bunking with two other guys in a 50 square meter apartment then CX is just not a very attractive option.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jet Fuel FL410 (Post 1022776)

Cloud Sailor,

Thanks for the info. I will get that book. This is a Second Officer Initial Interview, Second Officer Transition Training Programme.
I'm assuming its for a 2nd officer Position. I don't even know what Icadet, DESO or DEFO even means. Do you? I did read something on the net about 6 years training contract, but I have no clue. I meet the minimums so maybe that doesn't apply to me. I think the cadet program is for if you don't have 1,500 hours.
First I want to focus on the first Interview part 1 in NY.

Can I ask what kind of a different career path you took and why? Did you get through the 2nd interview in Hong Kong?

My Interview is in NY next month. Cathay sent me a email today saying the following
Interview with both Personal and Technical Questions (60mins)
Technical multiple-choice Questionnaire (30mins)

So I'm assuming no sim and CRM group test until Hong Kong?

There is so much info out there on Cathay that I'm just trying to find the most up to date information for the first portion of this interview.

Keep sending me more info if you have it. Thanks a lot!

It seems like all your questions have been answered here.

I apologize for the confusion... I thought the Direct Entry Second Officer (DESO) program with the Terms and Conditions I had last seen in 2003, was back in effect. Apparently not. I agree with the Dominican, and the rest on here who say that the Cadet program is an insult coming from a company of the magnitude and quality of CX.

Oh gimme me a break, there are a lot of homeless people here in the US as well, Hong Kong is an awesome city and although it is expensive lets not utilize ignorant exaggerations to make a point, the salary of a cadet at CX will buy you more than a cage under some bridge, just like regional pilots survive by sharing a crash pad, so do the pilots there, gezzz

are you willing to live in a crash pad with wife and kid...what type a place can you get with only $10,000 HKG a month. just asking.

$10,000..a 100 sq. ft. apartment in YWCA i guess.
But seriously, for real? it says right here (Cathay Pacific - Careers : Careers Home)
they starts at $45,000...is it just me having eye problem or what? pretty sure i am 20/20..

Quote:

Originally Posted by uspilot (Post 1024798)

are you willing to live in a crash pad with wife and kid...what type a place can you get with only $10,000 HKG a month. just asking.

As I have said before, it is not an attractive option for anyone with any sort of experience and certainly not for somebody who has been flying for over 30 years. But to say that a young pilot starting his career that chooses to take CX as a career employment will live as a hobo on a metal box on the streets, is a bit much.:rolleyes: