Cathay Pacific. "The real story"

[Cathay747400]

Been reading some things here lately about Cathay that I want to clear up.

I had been working in the US for all of my career and flew for a number of carriers on 747's, DC8's 757's, Fokker 100 and CRJ's. I have been with Cathay for six months and let me say this. IT IS FAR FAR BETTER THAN ANY US CARRIER, hell, any carrier. No-one and I mean no-one can name a carrier that hasn't had some sort of problem wether it be labor or pay or financial crisis. Maybe Jetblue.

Cathay has weathered major storms and the future looks brighter than I have ever seen. Cathay has a ton of money, is well run and has a lot of aircraft on order. Where can you hold left seat on a 747-200 in a year or two and on a -400 in about 3 years (Freighter) and in about 7/8 years on a 777 or A330/340. Answer: Nowhere! Please don't mention Kalitta or Southern. Different league all together.

Cathay is a great company to work for. I have been averaging 18 days off a month. The last two months I have had two weeks off in a row. The schedules are sick.

Now, it is not for the faint of heart or weak. I mean that in the nicest sense. Four months of training in Hong Kong. That is even if you get through the application/interview process which itself is very demanding. Cathay does things a lot different than US carriers and the training and IOE will be the toughest thing you have ever been through. But it is like an initiation. If you make it through, most do, you will be part of one of the best airline in the world. Be open to Hong Kong and all of Asia as well. Different culture. If you wanna make a big career here you will most likely have to relocate. Don't absolutley have to but, given tax issues etc.. Hong Kong and Asia are awesome. Yes, even for families.

Things are improving. The aircraft are all new (74 classics excluded) with a major order from Boeing soon. No narrow bodies. The new CEO Philip Chen is a great guy.

Oh yeah the pay. I was on full pay day one. Own hotel room in a four star hotel(cathay owns it and it is on the property of the entire training complex, unbelievable it is) Plus you get allowances, about $435 USD a week. They also gave me about $200 USD for the interview. No-one else does that anywhere.

So in summary, don't believe the hype. Great job and I pinch myself everyday. Apply now as we will be hiring and have been for the VERY distant future.

Oh and by the way, Cathay fits you for your uniform, pays for it and will dry clean it for free. Now I know no-one does that. Cheers.

PLK
744F
JFK

 

[daysleeper2621]

If you fly for a foreign airline, do they still acknowledge all of your U.S. pilot certificates and ratings? Or do you have to undergo there nation's certificate requirements to fly in that nation? And how so you work with the language barrier? Did you have to learn to speak their language or does everyone speak English??

 

[ETOPS-787]

Cathay 747400

Thanks for the info. I missed my interview today (in NYC) due to work and i am trying to have it done in August.

BTW I tried to PM but no luck.

Would you please tell us more about the interview process, the training in HK and how to convert your FAA ATP to HK ATP.

thx

 

[sgu]

ditto

Thanks for the info. I missed my interview today (in NYC) due to work and i am trying to have it done in August.

BTW I tried to PM but no luck.

Would you please tell us more about the interview process, the training in HK and how to convert your FAA ATP to HK ATP.

thx

I would like that 411 as well thanks!

 

[sgu]

Cargo Bases

How does the base assignments work on the freight division? I see they have multiple bases in the USA and around the globe like Sydney, Australia.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

"Thanks for the info. I missed my interview today (in NYC) due to work and i am trying to have it done in August.

BTW I tried to PM but no luck."

Good luck trying to reschedule. I don't think Cathay looks farvorably on cancellations, and you'd be very lucky if they chose to allow that...

 

[oldf4guy]

Thannks for the info. There is a guy in my squadron about to go to work there and I was just wondering how they handle military leave issues. Do they work with US military guys, or are they on their own. thanks

 

[Gulfstream 200]

heck, I can think of many worse places to be based than VHHH.

 

[sgu]

heck, I can think of many worse places to be based than VHHH.

VHHH..would that be Hong Kong

 

[Ty Webb]

Confucius say:


"Sound like-a AirTran with dry creaning allowance".

Seriously, is this the same airline as Cathay Pacific? Because the guys over on th PPrune board paint a completely different picture.

 

[pilot1704]

how strict are their qualifications!

Meaning I qualify except that I havent flown airplane over 20000kg.

How heavy they weight if someone inside recommends you!

 

[Gumshoe]

how do i apply?

 

[Cathay747400]

OK firstly, You have to write a number of tests in HKG to convert your license. I took four with all my credentials. Some more some less depends on your ratings/experience. No, everyone speaks english so no prob there. The bases in the states ar JFK, ORD, ANC and LAX on the freighter. LAX, SFO,YVR,YYZ on the pax. You can ask for a base. Most get there first choice but they can asign depending on need. Right now all domiciles on the freighter are open.


The interview process has you taking a written on the first one and then a HR interview then a pilot interview. YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED. If they like you they fly you to HKG for a second interview which is about 4 days. Medical, testing, interviews, group excersise etc... It is intense but Cathay make it enjoyable. They are really nice unlike United. YOU HAVE TO PASS THE SIM RIDE IN A B747-200. Get some time if you are not current, have never flown a big jet or don't have any 74 time. It's a big money career so it is worth the money. I can't give too much away as it would be wrong of me. The gouge is all over the net.

Apply on the Cathay Pacific website. There is a recent advert on climbto350.com.

PPrune is a forum to vent. We all do in one shape or another. Just take it with a little grain of salt. We all vent on the 10 hours to HKG but in the end I would say most CX guys know what a great deal we really have. All you have to do is read what is going in the rest of the industry and...

Again, great company, great people, great training. Don't come unless you plan to stay though. This is a major airline, asian yes, but the best in the world. You'll just have to trust me on that.

PLK
744F
JFK

 

[Twotter76]

How long would it normally take to transition from a second officer position to a first officer slot? How is pay for SO's? Thanks been curious about Cathay for some time but info isnt always readily available.


Twotter76

 

[center]

Twotter76,

Check your PM's.

 

[airgator]

So what's the deal with CX and Guard/reserve guys. Do they work with you or not?

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

No. Fahgetaboutit. Not a US Company, Not in the US, no tax credits for USNG/R in CHINA ...I am pretty sure that if you want to want to keep current and on strength, it will be a problem.

On a brighter note, your avatar rules.

 

[SWA GUY]

180 degrees from what I heard about Cathay 5 years ago.....

If it sounds too good to be true..... you know the rest.

 

[Cathay747400]

Honestly I don't know about the Reserve/Guard thing but I will find out for you so if you remember, write me around the 6/7th of July.

SWA Guy, five years ago. I'd really like to know what that means? Take a look at your own company that has been in a fight with some of it's frontline, core employees (Flight attendant's) for some time. You have had and have as many problems as we do. CX is, I think, a much better place to work than SWA. I do like Southwest but man you are in a different league. If you are going to slam something, look in the mirror first and please save your comments as there are a lot of people looking for work who aern't as lucky to have the now almighty privelige to work for SWA and need some information.

 

[starchkr]

Twotter...Upgrade from SO to FO is MUCH different than here in the US. They have many levels of FO's there...I did some research on them awhile back and it seems to take something like 10 years to get through the ranks of the FO's. Something like you start out on a "reserve" then move to junior FO (basically an enroute only FO...no TO's or Landings), then FO, which gives you something like 3 or 4 TO's and landings per month, then finally senior FO which is like our FO's here in the states. Plan on a few years at each spot before even getting close to captain upgrade...so 2-3 years at each FO spot gives you something like 8-12 years as an FO...now add in the time you will spend as an SO...man, you could be on your deathbed before you get a shot at the left seat.

I must agree that airgators avatar freakin' RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!