4everFO do you know how often the BOP is revised and what is the date on the latest BOP?

The Budget Operating Plan (BOP) is revised at least once a year. However, during 2008-09 there must have been at least 3-4 due to the collapse of the market and the subsequent scrambling to cut costs. I believe that the yearly BOP is done in the 4th quarter of the current year for the following year. The way us line schmucks find out about it....the DFO will have a weekly update that will mention things that matter to us, like growth (in terms of %), number of upgrades (CN and FO), new airplanes, new destinations, etc.

If CX do manage to order new airplanes, watch the announcement. The CEO will make statements about what the new airplanes are intended for, ie. growth v. replacement of older airframes. Keep in mind that the passenger -400s are getting old and tired, but they are paid for...with the exception of a few on lease.

FO

So the latest BOP is from October or November 09 or has a later been released? Things looked really bad at that point.

That would make sense from a business standpoint and saves the company a lot of money because Cadets don't get housing or education allowance. However, if there is much growth I believe they will be forced to hire Direct Entry FOs. Also, I think there are only a few that can work in the USA, so bases in the USA will have to be staffed with DFOs

Cadets do get education allowance now from rank of FO and up.

As far as the US bases go, this is MY take...Americans are now the 4th or 5th largest demographic in CX. If they do in fact intend to promote from within then the bases will be staffed by FOs and upgrading SOs transferring/bidding out of HKG. Remember they are recruiting "international" cadets now so there are bound to be some Yanks in the mix. If there are vacancies left over then they will staff the flights with HKG based pilots. The DEFOs in 2008 violated every single pilots CoS that was already in CX, hence the court case that the SOs won...naturally the company is appealing. I do not see them making the same mistake again. Now, if there is significant growth, and the experience levels of the cadets is such that they are not legally able to upgrade, then I think we will see DESOs and FOs. Right now there are 4 years worth of SOs (over 300 pilots) that have the experience to upgrade to FO. Additionally, the imminent dawn of 3 man long haul (Captain, FO and SO) to Europe doesn't bode well for the hiring of direct entry pilots.

Cruize...do not quote me but I believe it has been revised since the time period you state. All of the freighters being pulled from the desert are a sign that the budget changed.

FO

Really 4ever??? As a DEFO from 2008 "I" didnt do anything. It was the Cathay's decisions to hire the way they did. Your statement makes it sound like I did something wrong. Why dont you blame everyone who signed over to Cos08 as well since they are bringing up the bottom too.

Unless you interviewed, offered a training date and assigned a aircraft and base to yourself, then you did not violate anything...the company did. I should have typed the "hiring of DEFOs violated existing pilots CoS". Which the company did as evidenced by the judgement against the company in regards to the SO court case. Simple fact is that the recruiting of FOs to the passenger bases in 2008 did hamper/hinder the career of the SOs already in CX. I brought this up in regards to the hiring debate, that now the company might be more cautious about hiring to the bases in the FO rank due to the experience of 2008. Did I mention anything about the terms of CoS08? The terms of CoS 08 are a different story...for those on the outside the only difference is the retirement age and the FO pay scales.

FO

Looks like I better fill out that cadet application. Nothing like being a 6000hr cadet.

That is the reason why they are getting away with this ****. They have more than 10K apps for the cadet scheme. Several with ATPLs and tons of hours applying for a job in HK with no housing allowance.

Hopefully the majors will start hiring eventually and there will be a mass exodus from CX. If not terms and conditions are going to go further down the drain for this business.

Just to be clear my comment was sarcastic. I'm not gonna take a job in Hong Kong on 49,000 usd/yr.