There is no sim, the PCA is a hour and a half interview, consisting of mostly situational/scenario based questions. SO upgrade interview consists of more technical type questions (limits, fuel policy, etc).

FO

I stand corrected, I was under the impression there was a sim involved as that was what I had been told previosuly.

Thanks

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??

Some companies are well aware that they are a stepping stone type job. Any of the regionals for instance. That is partly what keeps the pay down since it is thought of by many to be a temp job.

Once you get to the Major/Legacy type job, that expectation goes away. I don't think Contintental was very happy about people using them for a 737 type and then taking off to SWA. Like I said, if you go somewhere and don't like it then fine. To go with the intention of leaving at the Major/Legacy level is frowned upon. This sort of behavior is why so many companies have gone to a bonding system overseas.

As for the training itself, recurrent is a heck of a lot shorter than putting another guy through a full type course when you leave. There are people waiting to change equipment etc. that get screwed because your actions clogged up the training pipeline. It's like using Delta so you can go to AA when they start hiring again.

The best remedy for us is to remind them that they are sitting in a Boeing and working for a company founded by an American They turn all these funny shades of red/purple.

I have to agree with Leftwing. It is an individual right to go to work somewhere with the strict intention of leaving after getting the necessary experience. If that is truly "a problem" with CX, then maybe they need to re-evaluate what they are offering (or not offering) their pilots. It is certainly not something you should bring up during the interview, but I can see it as only improving things for the pilot group down the road if it becomes aggravating to the company.

I turned down the job offer right away - a career there is attractive, but the company attitude and personality towards its pilots is lukewarm at best......... Good job - certainly, but fun - not really from what I experienced.

Flight attendants there also seem very callous and anti-social. Maybe I just smell bad or something.

Agreed, it's called the cost of doing business. If someody wants to go somewhere just for the experience and not for a career, let them. Happens all the time at just about any other occupation. Ours shouldn't be any different.

Now, it's not like this is going to happen at CX. But if (insert airline here) needs a staffing reduction for whatever reason, does anybody think the airline feels it has some obligation to keep you on payroll? Like itt's going to ruin a repution becaue it hired you and gave you a job and now dosn't feel the same way? Heck no, they will drop an employee at the drop of a hat if need be.

It is certainly your right but in my opinion it is bad form. I'm not talking about the fact of what you are doing to the company, I'm talking about it from a fellow pilot standpoint. I don't care if you leave, that is your business. I'm talking about coming with the intention of leaving without really giving the place a chance. By doing that you took an opportunity from someone else who may want to make the place a career. You take away a slot that someone may need to change equipment. CX doesn't train 600 or 700 new pilots a year so we can't absorb that.

As for screwing the company, as you said it is the cost of doing business. Ultimately if guys were to leave in droves it would help us out a bit. Unfortunately that is not the case, I believe we lost around 8 guys to UPS during their last hiring cycle. All that did was make it harder for the guys behind them as the "we were right about these Americans" crowd piped up.
Those were very few but they were there. We are relatively new to them and prior to us coming the Canadians were the new guys.

In the end, do what you want to do. It's not like I'm going to stop you. Just realize that your actions affect more than just you and the company. There are a lot of Americans here working to silence that minority, and yes, they are a minority.

If you are going to put in the effort to get this job, why not give it a real chance? I could really care less about what you do to the company. Like you say, they would fire/furlough you in a heartbeat if they had to. That said, I don't think they hire with the INTENTION of furloughing you as soon as it is feasible. See the difference?

Ok Guys. I am going to step in and answer this one. I work at Cx. There are so many Bs stories on this thread, it's not even funny. First of all, big changes have taken place in the training and checking philosophy at Cathay. The guys in the training department are really kicking ass. I can honestly say that things have changed for the better. It's all positive. I am not saying that Cx didn't have its problems in the past, but then again, which airline has not?
Now, what I am about to say might rub a few people the wrong way, but it is not my intention to be disrespectful. You can't come here as cocky as G.W Bush and tell a foreign airline, in America we do it this way! Or @ UAL we did this. I have flown the line here for several years. Is there an occasional prick you end up flying with at times? Sure, but rarely that has ever happened. Only once for me. Please tell me where that does not happen, and I'll throw in my resume there! I flew for a few U.S carriers, it wasn't all that relaxed and professional, as some people mentioned!
Only a few people left for UPS. And BTW, UPS is not all that fantastic either. The people that left were mostly unhappy from the start, and complained non-stop. Cx does not fit everyone's goals. THAT'S OK!
As far as Command you have to earn here. Several of my personal close friends just went through a command course here. I am here to tell you, that although they were exhausted after 3+ months of being drilled, training gave them 110% support all the way till the end. I even flew with some of them during their training and final checks. I saw nothing but professionalism all the way. I have seen some great improvements in the past few months. Please take your cues from people that are still employed with Cx, and not complainers that left for whatever reasons. Remember, there are always two sides to a story. Rumors rumors rumors........
If you have any questions, then write to me. I will not enter into any bashing contest with anyone. All the best gents.

First off sport, I NEVER said what I would do. It's not about me. I was just making the point that if somebody wants to go somehwere for experience, that's their perogative. Do YOU see the difference?

See above. Besides, do you THINK that CX is the ONLY company to possibly have this issue? I know a guy on the NCA contract. Guys in his new hire class were from CX. Guys from my last job are at EK, they ALSO had guys in their new hire class that came from CX.

I'm not sure where you get this term "screwing the company from". Again, see above. Again, going somewhere to gain experience is common. Not EVERYBODY sees CX (or whatever other company) as the be all end all of airlines. I'm glad you do. I NEVER said it wasn't a good job. But not EVERYBODY goes to work some place for the same reasons.

Again, my post WASN'T about me.

Again, I NEVER said what I would do. I could really care less what you think about what I said. I also NEVER said I would go to CX just to gain experience. Maybe you could quote where I did say that before you start making all these assumptions about what YOU think I would do.