I'm no expert on pay scales, but I believe CX pilots make truckloads of money compared to their American counterparts, as well as much lower taxes on said truckloads of money. Hong Kong is one of the most economically free places on Earth. And who would not want to live in such an awesome city?

LAFF i suggest you look at the payscales for Cathay and compare them to the regionals here. If you're a young guy going right into cathay as an SO can be a smart move. You're going right into a major airline and straight into widebody pay. By the time you upgrade at cathay you will be in command of a widebody before anyone who starts out a regional would be.

Puppyz

Do you know how hard is it to join them as a SO?

yea from what I hear its the hardest interview to get thru, but I have heard ur best chance of getting hired with them is as a young low time SO. I plan on applying once i get to 1000 hrs.

By low time, are we talking about 1000tt or more like 3000tt

their minimums say 1000hrs, im betting competitive is around 2,000 - 3000

All Second Officer applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:


An ICAO Airline Transport Pilot's License (ATPL) (obtained without exemptions) or ICAO Commercial Pilot's License (CPL) (obtained without exemptions) with passes in all ATPL ground examinations
A Valid Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
A minimum of 1000 hours fixed wing (preference will be given to applicants with turbine or multi-engine experience)
Experience commensurate with age
A current Class One Medical
Fluent spoken & written English

Isn’t SO is an autopilot baby sitter?

HK rocks!!

It will take a S.O about 10 years to get to command a heavy jet with Cathay Pacific. Here in the United States, it takes more than that, and some don't even get there. To hope to fly a 777 as a Captain for United, Delta, Continental, or American is virtually impossible, not to mention how hard it is to get into this companies, and once you do there is not that much stability. Yes getting with Cathay Pacific is extremly hard, but I'm with you Puppyz, once I reach the required time I will apply. (Puppyz make sure you start aplying as soon as you reach 1000, if you check willflyforfood.com, it seems like they like hiring low time pilots for the S.O positions, guys with more than 4k don't seem to do too good). I've also heard that being a S.O. is not at all that bad, you get to travel the world for free, and have a bunch of time off. By the way, once you reach first off. status you get to come back to the U.S.

Anyways everybody has different opinions and different things to consider (family, etc.). Go for it puppyz, I guess by the time I get there you will probably already be a first officer. Goodluck.