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Cathay Pacific Airways Interview

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#9

"#9"
Joined
Oct 17, 2004
Posts
6
I just got an offer to go to an interview (2d officer) in late June. I know there is a siginificant technical portion of this interview as well as a personal interview. I do not have the luxury of knowing anyone who's been through Cathay's interview process recently, but does anyone out there have any suggestions / stories about what to expect or how to prepare ?

Thank you.
 
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Go to www.pprune.com for all the info. Basically weather that affects Hong Kong area, aerodynamics, basic airmanship (AIM), your current airplane systems, 747 trivia, Hong Kong trivia. That is the tech portion for the 1st interview. HR side is straight forward. Good luck. I'll find out my result for the 1st interview tommorow.
 
Second officer, now that is respectable. Well Cathy Pacific is one of the best out there, just curious, if you have 6000 hours why aren't you doing the direct First officer program?
 
I interviewed for the DEFO position, you know what happens when one ASSumes. But the interviews are the same.
 
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#9--A lot of guys have gone in for the SO interview only to be offered a FO position. Do a search on the topic here and pprune.org. There's bags full. But you'll have to get on the stick, there's a few books that you need to acquire and read to prepare and they aren't at your local library.

IMO Cathay is one of the best deals going right now. I think it's a great move. Good luck.TC
 
Buy " Handling the Big Jets " by D.P. Davies and " Preparing for Your Cathay Pacific Interview " by Captains X,Y, and Z. Both are available through various aviation bookstores. www.transair.co.uk is one. You might also get " Understanding Performance ". It is a pretty basic book, but one would be surprised how many U.S. pilots don't understand the basic concepts of takeoff and landing performance and terminology. There is another good book, which someone will mention, " Aceing the Technical Pilot Interview " or something to that effect.

The Cathay pilots really seem to love Davies so if you work his ideas into your answers you'll probably do very well.

Lots of guys on here have interviewed so you shold get some more good answers. All my info is hearsay.


TP
 
I got hired and never read "Handling the big jets". Wish I would have though, ther interview was very technical. I truly didn't think I got the job after the interview portion. Be prepared for lots of questions on your aircraft type, what you know about Cathay, and I got a TON of stytems questions. IRS, GPS, Scholer's loop, INS drift equation. I didn't know all the answers by any means, but because I was prepared for the sim, answered all the questions honoestly, even with a couple of "I don't knows", and hung around to chat with guys after the cocktail party, I think that was good enough to get in the door.
Once your here, everything is realitively easy if you listlen in class and study a couple of hours a night. Everyone is SUPER nice and professional. I have only been here a short time, but from the people I have met, both students and instructors, and the future development I see around me, this is a great place to be.
 
Hey Typhoon pilot, You would be surprised how many non-u.s. pilots don't understand the basic concept of insturment flying. I mean these losers could not hand fly a steam gauge jet to 50 ft, on raw data If there life depended on it. Which it might someday Mr. glass cockpit. I wonder how many of these wonder boys would fair without a quality dispatch and operations network. I mean without all that help would they have the experience and backgroung to make safe decisions? But I gusse it dosesn't matter if you get a bad flight plan from some flight follower who just got hired at your supplemental air carrier. I mean He/She has now idea the difference between a dc-8 or a 747. Whats the big deal about planning a flight to PHNL and making Hickman airforce base the alternate? Hey as long as you understand the "BASICS CONCEPTS OF TAKEOFF AND LANDIDNG PERFORMENCE" you will be all right. I would like to open a can of good old american whoop ass on your face you arrogant Farking arshole!

Cheers!
typhoonpilot said:
Buy " Handling the Big Jets " by D.P. Davies and " Preparing for Your Cathay Pacific Interview " by Captains X,Y, and Z. Both are available through various aviation bookstores. www.transair.co.uk is one. You might also get " Understanding Performance ". It is a pretty basic book, but one would be surprised how many U.S. pilots don't understand the basic concepts of takeoff and landing performance and terminology. There is another good book, which someone will mention, " Aceing the Technical Pilot Interview " or something to that effect.

The Cathay pilots really seem to love Davies so if you work his ideas into your answers you'll probably do very well.

Lots of guys on here have interviewed so you shold get some more good answers. All my info is hearsay.


TP
Click to expand...
 
Hey D!ckhead Lear Schmuck,

Typhoonpilot IS an American. One who has flown plenty of "steam gauges". Obviously you have no fvcking clue, so shut the "fark" up before someone does the dance on YOUR face, you arrogant Farking arsehole.:rolleyes:
 
I don't care if he is American or not. He is an ignorant puke for assuming most american pilots don't understand the "BASICS" of aircraft performance. He must have come from the PFT culture. Or is surrounded by PFTers. Oh buy the way. Do you need my address? Tough guy!;)
Yank McCobb said:
Hey D!ckhead Lear Schmuck,

Typhoonpilot IS an American. One who has flown plenty of "steam gauges". Obviously you have no fvcking clue, so shut the "fark" up before someone does the dance on YOUR face, you arrogant Farking arsehole.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
 
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Yank, thanks for the back-up.

This is the problem with anonymous internet posting. Lear, you are making an assumption as to the tone of my post :confused: . In no way do I think U.S. pilots are inferior to other pilot groups. U.S. pilots bring a lot to the table and I completely agree that hand flying skills is one area they do tend to be a little better at. I was merely trying to point out that, in my experience, I've found a little lower depth of academic knowledge in regards to certain areas ( I even include myself in this statement ). This is important to the question asked in this thread as the Cathay interview is VERY TECHNICAL.

Typhoonpilot
 
I agree with Typhoon. I felt like an IDIOT in the interview and I have a degree in aeronautics! Is it too tough? maybe, but if they are looking at how you handle stress or if you'll try to cover up your ignorence, maybe not. I told them flat out I didn't know Schooler's loop or the INS drift equation, but I still got the job.
As I have taken the exams to get my Hong Kong ATPL I can tell you it takes more gouge then I had when I got my degree, in the military, or my 737 type.
Is it overkill? again, maybe, but if Chinese guys with little hours, right out of College can pass them and US airline guys have to study their arses off, what does that tell you? Would I rather have a US guy as my F/O on a stormy night with multiple failures, maybe, but if can't figure out our landing distance with anti-skid inop, 27 Tons of fuel on board, on a wet runway with an engine out, then maybe not.
 
How is the atmosphere over there now? I was gonna apply about 4 years ago and a guy I knew told me not to b/c of the union busting. Then ALPA black flagged them so I stayed away. Now I could just KICK myself. My wife was born in Hong Kong and still has residency rights and we still have family over there but don't want to move from the states now. Hopefully can get an interview soon.
 
This a good point. Weather your FO/SO will be usefull in a pinch has nothing to do with weather he/she is an American or not. If he/she is properly trained and remains current in there studies. they will be able to come up with numbers very quickly. The runway anaylisis numbers are right next to my right leg and they are so easy to use even my 3 year old could figure it out. I'll take the guy with good hands, great situational awearness, and common sence anyday! Amereicans are treated very poorly by many of the brit's and aussies at Cathy. So I have been told. Maybe it's because some of us (me) can't spell or don't speak the Kings english. Or maybe they watch to much Jerry Springer. I don't know? Hong Kong is fun though I love the layovers there.


See you at the square!
Bjammin said:
I agree with Typhoon. I felt like an IDIOT in the interview and I have a degree in aeronautics! Is it too tough? maybe, but if they are looking at how you handle stress or if you'll try to cover up your ignorence, maybe not. I told them flat out I didn't know Schooler's loop or the INS drift equation, but I still got the job.
As I have taken the exams to get my Hong Kong ATPL I can tell you it takes more gouge then I had when I got my degree, in the military, or my 737 type.
Is it overkill? again, maybe, but if Chinese guys with little hours, right out of College can pass them and US airline guys have to study their arses off, what does that tell you? Would I rather have a US guy as my F/O on a stormy night with multiple failures, maybe, but if can't figure out our landing distance with anti-skid inop, 27 Tons of fuel on board, on a wet runway with an engine out, then maybe not.
Click to expand...
 
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leardrivr said:
Amereicans are treated very poorly by many of the brit's and aussies at Cathy.
Click to expand...
No, we are not, but I will say that the few sour puffs we have around here, doesn't care what type of passport you hold...
 
I'll take a yank over a european ab-intio student anytime. Sure, getting your FAA ATP is one big joke. But atleast most of you guys know how to fly a airplane by the time you get a 737/747 job.

FD

(FAA CPL, JAA ATPL)
 
I only been here a short while, but the atmospere seems great. About 4 years ago I imagine it was quite different. Pilots are not the type of people to sit around and take it when an airline "gets rid of" a few of their own. Even in the interview they talked about how management and flight crew were very much at odds at one time, but how much better it has become. The 49's were, and still are, a big issue, but I think the airline realizes it was a HUGE black eye and truly wants to move on and so does the union. It cost Cathay millions in legal fees, maybe even lost revenue, and definately a huge pilot resource in North America for some time steming from a backlash from unions in the states. I think alot of older North American pilots still see Cathay as an evil network, and have trouble excepting the airline as a respectable foreign carrier, that's understandable. I think in time that attitude will change, especially as some US carriers have made some very questionable decisions of their own.
I am not an expert on much of anything by any means, but I see this as a great place to be right now. The airline is recruiting like mad, taking atvantage of the booming Asian economy, and is really trying hard to create a possitive atmoshere for all it's employies. There are people out there that would bitch if you GAVE them a million dollars, but I for one am very glad to be here and have not noticed anyone treating me, a US homebread soldier boy, different from anyone else.
As far as training, your right, it doesn't matter which country you come from IF you have the propper attitude, but getting your licence in the states seems to be much easier then most countries and this Pay For Training thing is truly dumbing down the pilot base, in my humble opinion. The North Americans that Cathay seems to be recruiting are, for the most part, very professional seasoned avaitors. Either guys with 1000's of hours flying for 135 or 121's or military trained guys. Both groups bring lots to the table especially in "flying sence", but I see that we also lack the book knowlege of our counterparts. However, because these guys are professionals they study very hard and get 90+ on these Hong Kong ATPL exams. I commend all thse guys that come over here and put in the effort. It's great to be in their company.
 
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Flyingdutchman said:
Sure, getting your FAA ATP is one big joke. But atleast most of you guys know how to fly a airplane by the time you get a 737/747 job.


FD

(FAA CPL, JAA ATPL)
Click to expand...

and you are soooo much better at getting people from point a to point b. big deal :)
 
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Dude, read between the lines.. I'm saying that id rather fly wit a FAA pilot instead of a JAA (low hour) pilot.

FD
 

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