Cathay SO interview

[OARfan]

Have quite a few questions about the interview process and position. How long do you have to be an SO before being an FO? I would appreciate any PM's on the gouge if anyone has it. Thanks

 

[NDPILOT]

you have to be a SO for 12 months from the date of your line-check, which equates to about 18 months from date of hire. That will only apply if you bid over to the freighter. The JFO route is at about 2 years 8 months to start course....which also changes all the time.

 

[Noise]

How does it work at Cathay if you get hired as an SO with very little PIC time? Would I still be required to meet ATPL minimum requirements (ie: 500 pic) to make captain?

 

[NDPILOT]

when you upgrade to FO, you get a P1 rating on the aircraft, which allows you to log PIC time while acting as relief commander. A lot of guys join with very little PIC time and make their way through the CX ranks.

 

[Noise]

Thanks for the reply ND pilot.

Do you know if they are still hiring SOs? I have had my app in for awhile and haven't heard anything.

 

[Dieterly]

which allows you to log PIC time while acting as relief commander.

Not true. Also guys have been kept from upgrading due to the requirment of P1 time, mainly cadets.

 

[johnsonrod]

A few questions...

Are SO positions available on all of the longhaul airplanes - 777, A340 and 744? Once you finish the obligatory 2 years and 8 months (on average I guess) of SO time, do you then bid the aircraft of your choice for FO if you are on the pax side? Or do you get assigned an aircraft type?

Can pilots on the pax fleet bid US bases eventually or are those only reserved for the freighter pilots? Do the US bases have to be served by your airplane type?

 

[DoubleDropRise]

777,A340, and 744 SO? As in second officer or an FE with no A&P. Do you have SO's on your RJ?

Are SO positions available on all of the longhaul airplanes - 777, A340 and 744? Once you finish the obligatory 2 years and 8 months (on average I guess) of SO time, do you then bid the aircraft of your choice for FO if you are on the pax side? Or do you get assigned an aircraft type?

Can pilots on the pax fleet bid US bases eventually or are those only reserved for the freighter pilots? Do the US bases have to be served by your airplane type?

 

[johnsonrod]

777,A340, and 744 SO? As in second officer or an FE with no A&P. Do you have SO's on your RJ?

Perhaps you should read the title of this thread d!ckhead. These are legit questions. Thanks for adding nothing to this discussion and wasting our time. Enjoy your beer.

 

[DoubleDropRise]

Perhaps you should read the title of this thread d!ckhead. These are legit questions. Thanks for adding nothing to this discussion and wasting our time. Enjoy your beer.

Take it easy Johnson. It was a stupid question. I added the fact that you have know idea what a SO is, or the aircraft that require them.

 

[ksna]

Take it easy Johnson. It was a stupid question. I added the fact that you have know idea what a SO is, or the aircraft that require them.

Wow...

 

[jayme]

Cathay uses SOs on 777, A340 and 744. Cathay calls the junior cruise pilot on the crew the SO. We're NOT talking about FEs.

 

[NDPILOT]

Yes, we are still hiring SO's, it seems like most of them are going to the 777 as that's the expanding fleet. We do have SO's that operate on all of the aircraft. Generally when you upgrade to JFO, you'll remain on a like fleet..ie, a340 SO will go JFO on the a330, the boeing guys usually go to the 777. To take a North America base, you'd have to be on the fleet that serves the city you want to base in. For NA that's going to be the 777, or a340 for YVR. Otherwise the freighter route will get you based on the 744.

 

[mynameisjim]

Take it easy Johnson. It was a stupid question. I added the fact that you have know idea what a SO is, or the aircraft that require them.

Do you realize that you're wrong?

 

[DoubleDropRise]

mea culpa. It was his reference to the male anatomy that prompted my response. I guess I can't call them oiler's anymore.

 

[On Your Six]

mea culpa. It was his reference to the male anatomy that prompted my response. I guess I can't call them oiler's anymore.

Oh snap! The so-called "expert" gets called out on that one...

 

[boxjockey]

I suggest you drop in on the fragrant harbour forums for more detailed answers. We are still hiring SOs on all long haul fleets. As people upgrade, then they are replaced on that fleet, give or take a few. The total number of SOs has held pretty steady for the last few months, but we have been hiring many DEFO. Good luck joining as an SO, as you won't get any bypass pay for 42 months or something terrible, as the time to upgrade will probably be quite long. It is a good paid vacation, but you will get bored not flying. You will be assigned whichever aircraft they want you to have. Currently, all new JFO classes are going to the 330, regardless of previous fleet. Hope this helps you some.

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[On Your Six]

I suggest you drop in on the fragrant harbour forums for more detailed answers. We are still hiring SOs on all long haul fleets. As people upgrade, then they are replaced on that fleet, give or take a few. The total number of SOs has held pretty steady for the last few months, but we have been hiring many DEFO. Good luck joining as an SO, as you won't get any bypass pay for 42 months or something terrible, as the time to upgrade will probably be quite long. It is a good paid vacation, but you will get bored not flying. You will be assigned whichever aircraft they want you to have. Currently, all new JFO classes are going to the 330, regardless of previous fleet. Hope this helps you some.

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Where do the A330s typically fly out of HKG? Do they also fly the A340 or just the A330? Are we talking mainly intra-Asia or do they get some Europe and Middle East as well?

 

[Scarabus]

How do you get these guys to contact you? I have had my info online with them over a year and keep it up to date but never get a response.
Thanks

 

[boxjockey]

The 330s typically do more regional flying, as well as the bulk of our Australia stuff. I think the longest sector they do is Sydney maybe, around 10 hours. If you fly the 330, you will also CCQ and fly the 340. The 340 was going to JNB, AUK, and AMS, but the AMS is being taken over by 744 and the JNB may be the 777 soon. Looks like alot of Aus and India on the Airbus fleet. For the other post, just keep updating. We hired a ton of the Oasis guys when they went under, as well as integrating some DragonAir cargo guys. I think the hiring will probably slow some for a while.

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