Cathay Career progression

[NAAPilot]

Thanks again to everyone has answered my seemingly dumb questions...Just wondering if anyone can tell me a good place to pick up some of the study material that has been mentioned above. Most importantly Preparing for your CX interview. Thanks in advance....

 

[rhinodriver]

Need some fertilizer for your lawn?

I'm confused. Normally a large number of aircraft on order, especially widebodies, would cause a flood of applications. And, judging by what I've heard of the schedules, it sounds like a pretty nice QOL can be had right off the bat. If that's true, why do I hear about so many people bitching/quitting and why? Where is the grass greener?

-Moose

PS - speaking of the DEFO position.

Good questions... there's really no greener grass. It just depends on what you want and what your other opportunities are.

This is a good job. Maybe not the best job, but a good job. If you know what an actual debrief of performance (good or bad) is like then you probably will not have problems here. If you are a delicate flower and get your feelings hurt easily then you should probably stay away cause training (checking) will be hard for you.

If you think you don't have the hours but are interested... just apply. I've been here about a year and a half and was hired DEFO with 2200TT. I've heard that a guy just started with 2000TT. All they can say is no...

As with everywhere the company has issues, but the check is there every month and I enjoy quite a bit of time off.

 

[Little Bubba]

how do you enjoy the increase of the retirement age?

 

[Trash8Mofo]

As a DEFO, one would get a check every mo? I thought that was just for the SO. what kind of checks, sim, line check, oral?

do you guys bid for your time off like every other airlines or the co assigns them to you? e.g. you bid for the specific pairings vs. pre-made lines that you'd pick based on senority.

one last stupid question. If a pilot doesnt use his/her hotel room, does the company split the savings with the pilot (a hotel bank)? Thanks again.

 

[rhinodriver]

Ooops, I didn't mean check ride

As a DEFO, one would get a check every mo? I thought that was just for the SO. what kind of checks, sim, line check, oral?

do you guys bid for your time off like every other airlines or the co assigns them to you? e.g. you bid for the specific pairings vs. pre-made lines that you'd pick based on senority.

one last stupid question. If a pilot doesnt use his/her hotel room, does the company split the savings with the pilot (a hotel bank)? Thanks again.

Sorry, I ment the pay check.

You have very little control over your schedule. There isn't bidding like at a U.S. carrier. The company just writes your schedule. You can request certain trips or certain days off but you may or may not get them. You also get a block of 5 days and 2 days every three months that you get off (so you don't have to bid vacation for stuff like birthdays etc). We also get 42 paid days of vacation per year.

The hotel room thing... yeah right.

Age 65 is likely coming to everywhere at some point so I see it as a wash anyway (not that I'm happy about it).

 

[Bjammin]

In a company that is expanding as much as we are and being between 15 and 25 captains short on the freighter this month, I think this is the absolute best time to raise the age.

Imagine if it happened in a downturn. Then I might be pissed.

 

[Little Bubba]

Bjammin,

Why are we 15-25 captains short on the freighters?

 

[Bjammin]

Many reasons.

1. FO's on the freighter would rather go to the PAX side as FO's then upgrade to captain on the freighter because: A. They don't want the crappy rosters the captains have. This makes for even worse captain rosters (self licking ice cream cone) B. It's about the same money either way. C. They don't want to take the chance of failing the upgrade course.

2. We get new freighters all the time and "A" scale guys are not signing up for freighter trips.

3. Some captains are finding greener pastures.

The intigration of the fleets will help, but with all the new A/C orders it is just a band-aid.

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

BJ, don't feel obliged to answer Bubb's questions: he already knows the answers and is trying (successfully) to stir the pot.

 

[Mooseflyer]

Good questions... there's really no greener grass. It just depends on what you want and what your other opportunities are.

This is a good job. Maybe not the best job, but a good job. If you know what an actual debrief of performance (good or bad) is like then you probably will not have problems here. If you are a delicate flower and get your feelings hurt easily then you should probably stay away cause training (checking) will be hard for you.

If you think you don't have the hours but are interested... just apply. I've been here about a year and a half and was hired DEFO with 2200TT. I've heard that a guy just started with 2000TT. All they can say is no...

As with everywhere the company has issues, but the check is there every month and I enjoy quite a bit of time off.

Thanks for the replys Rhino et. al.

Are there a "minimum" number of days off per month? From what I've read/searched for here, sounds like most guys are doing 2 trips per month, of 5-7 days each?

42 paid vacation days ain't too shabby! Does this work out to 3 months off per year, or doesn't it work like that?

From what I've researched so far, sounds like a pretty nice place to be - now if they'd only call.....