Cathay Pacific Q's

[Flat-tire]

vtwin

How many days off do you have after a trip like that? Do you and the skipper stay together for the trip?

Cpt. Underpants

Are your trips commutable on the pass. side of things or do you live in base?

 

[shroomwell]

How bad is the Physical. Any links to more information on it?

 

[Flat-tire]

The Physical was straight forward and pretty standard. Its pretty much the same as an FAA medical from a thorough doctor. If they find that you have any problems they ask you to see a local doctor to sort it out. You have to pass the interview first, so I would concentrate on that.

Blood work
Chest X-ray
Urine sample
History
Eyes
Hearing
Blood pressure

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

Flat

I am HKG based, always have been (17 years). It is commutable, but its' hard on you physically and very risky as a no-show without a CONFIRMED (full-fare) ticket is a termination occurrence. "Chucking a sickie" (google it) if you get bumped is risky at best and could get you fired.

Seniority on sublo tickets is also no guarantee as our N American flights not only run pretty much at capacity but are frequently RTOW limited. Jumpseating on the freighter on sublo is also not allowed (don't ask me why).

CX is also not an FAA-recognised Part 135 or 121 carrier so we have no jumpseat arrangements in the US. Not surprisingly, we do not offer jumpseats to anyone outside the CX/KA group.

The physical is a standard Class 1 with ECG, vision (Isishara and normal acuity charts) and Audio, blood and urine tests and a general disclosure form. BMI is measured and monitored.

 

[vtwin]

vtwin

How many days off do you have after a trip like that? Do you and the skipper stay together for the trip?

Cpt. Underpants

Are your trips commutable on the pass. side of things or do you live in base?

Your off more than on. 7-10 days off between patterns and you may see the skipper again on the same pattern maybe not, he may be JFK or HKG based for example. Trips are pretty commutable on both pax and freighter ends and so maybe you need a hotel 2-4 times a month. You commute in early get "well rested" and make your report because there is no reserve pool here.
You book off sick at the last minute or no show a trip and its a big deal
parking the jumbo somewhere for 4-8 hours before they fly somone else in.
Guys spend big bucks buying full fare tickets at times to get to work here.
As a based yank I have a life outside the airline with the time off and 6 weeks vacation. They seem to like to schedule you for a sim when you come back from leave just to show you whose boss though.

Your basically commuting to an international block or, um, roster here.

By the way, you are gonna owe Underpants and me a beer after all this.

 

[Flat-tire]

Cpt. Underpants, vtwin

Thanks for all the info, I would have hit up www.pprune.com but all they do is whinge about how bad things are at Cathay. I have a few years as a S/O to sort out the Logistics. I'll see you guys at Dakotas for payment.

Oh, do you guys know a TWA guy named J. Bloodwell?

FT

 

[vtwin]

Cpt. Underpants, vtwin

Thanks for all the info, I would have hit up www.pprune.com but all they do is whinge about how bad things are at Cathay. I have a few years as a S/O to sort out the Logistics. I'll see you guys at Dakotas for payment.

Oh, do you guys know a TWA guy named J. Bloodwell?

FT

I know him. Are you hired? Some of the whinging is deserved, but it is usually by the folks that get wrapped around the axle pretty tightly over
the Cathay way. You can't be a sensitive type and thrive here.

By the way, we call Dakotas the "gay bar" because only pilots go in there.

 

[TX_DFW]

we call Dakotas the "gay bar" because only pilots go in there

Finally some good info for pilots.

 

[Flat-tire]

Yes, I start in a few months on the 777 as a SO. One more question, if I upgrade as a FO on the pass fleet then move to the freight side at a later time, would I move to the reduced pay rate?

I did a type rating with J.B. a while back before he went to CX. Wasn't sure where he was at.

Sorry about the "gay bar", you can name the place.

 

[vtwin]

Yes, I start in a few months on the 777 as a SO. One more question, if I upgrade as a FO on the pass fleet then move to the freight side at a later time, would I move to the reduced pay rate?

I did a type rating with J.B. a while back before he went to CX. Wasn't sure where he was at.

Sorry about the "gay bar", you can name the place.

Yes, but don't know why you would do that unless you want to go for command where it is about even. Things may change by then with a combined fleet in the future but I am really going out on a limb suggesting that because it is rumor right now. Too far away for you to concern yourself with in my opinion.