Any American Military Reservists out there flying for Cathay??

["#9"]

If there is anyone out there flying for CX and is also a US Military reservist, I have a few questions for you. [I am a recent DEFO hire and am currently a USAF Active Duty pilot. I would begin with CX at the beginning of next year.]

What branch fo service are you?
How does the CX schedule work out for you and your Reserve job?
Any issues?

Thank you, in advance, for your answers and advice.

 

[unarmed danger]

Good luck. Only US companies are bound by userra. I am sure that Cathay is like any other foriegn company. They will not drop trips, move schedules or the like. In fact, if you are ever recalled, you could be terminated at their whim. They may well not even allow you to participate, and if you do so in secret may risk the same. Once again, good luck, but the good old boy military system is not alive and well overseas. I'm not saying it isn't done, just that in the long run your risk vs reward is very heavy on the risk.

Anyone who denies this is doing just that: living in "De Nile". My advice is to get a job here in the US if the mil retirement means that much to you. Otherwise, I'm sure CX is a great job and you'll retire with more than enough dough. Of course, if your unit is extremely flexible and will let you get away with only a couple of days a month on days you pick(or you happen to live where it is) you may get away with it for a year or two, but those monkeys get awfully heavy after awhile. It looks like you are an AF C-argo dude, and I would think that would have recall written all over it, but what do I know...

 

[Metro752]

They have a pilot base in the U.Ss? How could they not be bound by U.S. labor laws?

 

[ERJdca]

#9


There are a few guys on this board that are in the Reserves flying here so it must be possible. I believe your on your own, you have to work your roster around it. BJAMMIN is one of them(i think). Im sure he can shed some light.

 

[Purpledriver]

A friend of mine works for them in my reserve squadron and he enjoys the job, but working around the military schedule can be difficult. He can't drop trips for drills or AT etc, but the squadron works with him on it. Basically, you need to be upfront with your reserve unit and let them know that you might need a little more flexibility than the next guy.

 

[AlbieF15]

I'm sure my bros doing CAPs, SARCAP, FAC, and ground duty over in Iraq and Kabul right now are enjoying "...the good old boy military system...."

I know there are plenty of great pilots out there from all kinds of backgrounds, but serving in the ANG or Reserves ain't a game. Even in a training unit, managing two jobs can be a major pain. Patriotism, job security, and extra income are all some of the reasons guys serve, but there is a price to being part of the "..good old boy's..." system you allude to.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

You are right Albie. Unfortunately that attitude is prevalent in this business, but "unarmed" may not have meant any harm. He's "unarmed" after all. Thanks, folks, I'll be here all week. Be kind to your servers.

As for me, when my bid comes out, I look at my days off and turn right around and give 6-8 of those back to the gov't. End result: 8-10 days off each month.

I AM LIVING THE DREAM!

 

[unarmed danger]

I'm sure my bros doing CAPs, SARCAP, FAC, and ground duty over in Iraq and Kabul right now are enjoying "...the good old boy military system...."

I know there are plenty of great pilots out there from all kinds of backgrounds, but serving in the ANG or Reserves ain't a game. Even in a training unit, managing two jobs can be a major pain. Patriotism, job security, and extra income are all some of the reasons guys serve, but there is a price to being part of the "..good old boy's..." system you allude to.

Albie,

I know you are a good dude, so I take no offense....hope you feel the same. I only am responding to the original post, and stand by my statement about the difficulty of a reserve gig whilst in a company such as CX... it's pretty much a no go. I never said good old boy was a bad thing, it just is. Thanks for the help you give folks on this board.

 

[AlbieF15]

No offense taken. Sometimes the tone of these is hard to read without :laugh: smiles trying to paint the picture.

So...:beer: to you.....

 

[Bjammin]

I do it. I fly for a training squadron in Kingsville, TX and am based out of LAX with CX. CX interviewed me and hired me knowing I wanted to stay in the reserves until my retirement in 2007, no problem. I had to write a letter to the chief pilot laying out my responsiblities.

I've been with CX for over a year and have had no problem with either the airline or Navy. Luckly the reserve unit is EXTREAMLY flexible. Basically as long as I make a couple of mandatory days a year and fly 100hrs, I'm an asset to them. CX has given me any days off I have asked for as well. I'm still home about 15 days a month working both jobs.

Working for a training squadron the chance of getting recalled is extreamly slim, but CX said that would give me leave without pay if I were to be recalled.

Even though I work for CX I actually work for a company owned by CX called USA Basing. That's how they can have a US base. I think most foreign airlines have this same type of arrengment. If push came to shove I'm sure I could use this to fight for the reserves, but it would never be worth it. I would resign from the reserves in a minute if it meant I might lose my CX job, I have no commitment to the military after 19 years of serving.

So far all is working fine. I may stay in the reserves for another 3 years so I can get an O-5 retirement. I love serving my country and being associated with the bright officers and aviators of the US Navy. It will be tough to leave.

 

[BSkin]

I would resign from the reserves in a minute if it meant I might lose my CX job, I have no commitment to the military after 19 years of serving.

So far all is working fine. I may stay in the reserves for another 3 years so I can get an O-5 retirement. I love serving my country and being associated with the bright officers and aviators of the US Navy. It will be tough to leave.

Would you really give up that guaranteed, government payed retirement? I don't know much about Cathay, have a couple of friends going through the interview process. Is that job so great that you would sacrifice that? Serious question. Sometimes I regret I got out when I did, that retirement is huge! I'm happy where I am now but nothing would take me away from that retirement, if I was one year away.

It doesn't sound like you have to worry about it though, but if you did?

 

[Bjammin]

Yea, I would.

Why? Because if I lost Cathay I would loose a much bigger retirement pacakage and a job I absolutly love.

The Navy reserve retirment I would get would start at age 60 and be half my base pay at best. Cathay gives my 15.5% of my base pay every month for retirement, CASH to use NOW for investments. No other airline hiring today has that.

I'm working hard to make sure I don't have to make that choice. So far Cathay has been very hands off about the whole thing and has given me all the requested days off I needed (2 days every three months for my mandatory drills), and the Navy has been VERY accomadating as well. If I miss a couple of mandatories, no big deal.

I'm very lucky to have such a flexable unit. I bascally get my schedule from Cathay on the 15th of every month for the next month, tell the reserves when then can expect me (usually I give 3 days in a row a month) by the 20th, get my ID90's for AA on-line, show up in Kingsville Texas, fly 2 - 3 flights a day, and then get my butt back home. I ususlly NEVER even see my bosses in Kingsville. It's a good paycheck, lots of fun, easy, because it's the same job I did for 5 years as an active duty guy, and I very much like the guys I work with.

 

[BSkin]

Cathay gives my 15.5% of my base pay every month for retirement, CASH to use NOW for investments. No other airline hiring today has that.

Don't blame your thinking, with that kind of matching retirement!

Have fun out there when you're doing form, cruise-form, guns, etc. Can't imagine you do too many x-countries anymore

 

[JFReservist]

another question

I know I'm going to get crap from someone, but what is the story with jumpseating at CX? Can I commute from my reserve (home) job to a US CX base?

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Cathay gives my 15.5% of my base pay every month for retirement, CASH to use NOW for investments. No other airline hiring today has that.

Bjammin,

A 15.5% Defined Contribution plan is a GREAT plan. Just to clarify, there are in fact US passenger airlines hiring today that have similar plans. At Continental, for example, the DC plan is 10% for the next 12 months and transitions to 12.75% in 12 months. Not quite 15.5% but not terrible either. UAL, I believe, gets up to 15% between their B Plan and C Plan, but they aren't hiring. FDX has a 6% B Plan as well as an A Plan (DB plan) with a 2% FAE multiple, etc.

-Neal

 

[Bjammin]

I know I'm going to get crap from someone, but what is the story with jumpseating at CX? Can I commute from my reserve (home) job to a US CX base?

Why would anyone give you crap? Not me.

Unfortunatly, CX doesn't allow jumpseaters. I have no idea why. We always have upperdeck seats empty on the freighter. Other airlines even let family members to go along to other countries on their freighters.

It's unfortunate because I have no option other then ID90's to get to my reserve job because no domestic airlines will let me jumpseat due to Cathay's policy.

 

[(o) (o)]

CX doesn't allow jumpseaters.don't know why

Why would they let anyone jumpseat when they can charge people upwards of 300 bucks a pop for a roundtrip "discounted" ticket from HKG to N. America??

and that's ECONOMY CLASS!!

Have fun..