Cathay freighter spots
 

When was the last time cathay was hiring FO for stateside freighter ops. They invited me for an interview for the pax side a few years ago but I had to say no since I was unable to leave the states at that time. I just got another email from them, but its SO spots only.

Do a search here and over at pprune. LOTS of discussion on this one. Bottom line: Cathy ain't what it used to be.

cathay freighter spots
 

How is Cathay not what it used to be?

Pay, QOL, reduced housing allowance, etc. Good buddy of mine from college refused to help me get a job there after they cut the benefits for new hires. Basically a B-scale without calling it that.

Second Officers used to get housing in HKG. Now they don't, and housing is VERY expensive there! I also heard no direct entry FOs being hired....have to start as a SO (relief FO???) or a cadet.

Did you ever interview with Cathay?

I applied, at some point, but that is it. I know 2 guys at Cathay. 1 likes it and 1 doesn't.

I know another guy who was in the pool for DEFO (Direct Entry FO). The pool was shut down and about a year later they asked him to come back and interview for a DESO (Direct Entry Second Officer) slot. He was offered a DESO spot, but then decided he didn't want to be an SO with the new terms at Cathay.

Maybe, hopefully, with United/Delta/AA hiring in the near future they'll change their tune....

I think their tune is changing to this..

"Please note that we are currently ONLY recruiting for the Cadet Pilot Programme for which a permanent HKID card is required."

I know another guy who was in the pool for DEFO (Direct Entry FO). The pool was shut down and about a year later they asked him to come back and interview for a DESO (Direct Entry Second Officer) slot. He was offered a DESO spot, but then decided he didn't want to be an SO with the new terms at Cathay.[/QUOTE]

That was my exact story! You know me Cliff!?! Just kidding, that happened to a lot of us in early 2008. The bigger problem than housing is the schools. If you plan on raising or already have a family the schools are full and very expensive. Cathay does chip in for tuition but there are a lot of other fees that Cathay does not cover.

If the housing allowance ever returns are even comes close to what it was I would consider the job again.

The last pilot hired onto a base in the US was hired in April or March of 2008. Its a shame b/c it is a pretty good gig for those on a base. After that it was solely SO's in HKG. As of about two years ago, the package changed so that nobody receives housing allowance anymore. Pretty poor package. Considering that half the company doesn't want to go to HKG on $10K USD/Mo for housing, I'm surprised they get anyone willing to do it for free. Oh wait, no I'm not. Regional Airline or CX with no housing.....not that hard of a decision if you only have 100-1000 hrs, CX's new bread and butter.

Any chance on getting hired as a DEC at Cathay at some point in the future?

No. That ship has sailed.

If you get hired as a DEC at CX, I hope there will be no FOs for you to fly with. I sure as hell wouldn't be coming to work. With more than 10,000 hours in the logbook and 5000 of them on the 747, I will take that left seat, thanks.

FO

A recent freighter captain
 

Someone told me on a recent trip, that a CX Freighter Captain had been hired by Boeing. I said I did not know Boeing was hiring and I would like to apply, as many perhaps would! The pilot told me he was Canadian and I went "huh"? Foreigners cannot work for a U.S. company. So, I researched it and found this!

Boeing Pilots Protest Use of Contractors to Train 787 Crews | Aviation International News

Nice to hear an CX freighter guy (and maybe a DEC they hired) is possibly going to be a scab at Boeing.

Some real winners over at CX I have heard.:mad:

Is that the correct link for the article? You mentioned "scab", so I naturally assumed that the Boeing Pilots are on strike.

Me and a buddy had an interview scheduled back in 05 or 06, I can't remember. The more we looked into it, we both decided to decline the interview. They expected you to be able to design the airplane for the interview.

The senior guys at CX have been negotiating B and C scales for those below them since at least the early 90's. Nothing new. "I am onboard, pull the ladder up".

No thanks.

Not design the airplane just play the game. Just like any interview....red ties for interviews in ATL?

CX introduced the B and C scales without consult with the AOA the older guys did not throw us under the bus...we are on individual contracts here and there is no collective bargaining.

I am not a lover of my employer but your 'facts' are off.

FO

Since when can't foreigners work for a US company?? SCAB... there is no strike at Boeing....

Is Boeing shafting their current "line assist" pilots... it would appear so... but the guys doing the work are in NO way SCABS...