barbarian4
a bit of ultra-violence
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2001
- Posts
- 101
Welcome to Flightinfo.com
- Register now and join the discussion
- Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
- Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
- Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
- Share the passion for aviation
- Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun
Cathay Pacific
- Thread starter barbarian4
- Start date
- Watchers 7
Welcome to Flightinfo.com
- Register now and join the discussion
- Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
- Invite your friends
- Share the passion of aviation
- Friendliest aviation community on the web
Webslinger
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2002
- Posts
- 119
barbarian4
a bit of ultra-violence
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2001
- Posts
- 101
starchkr
New Bus driver
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 1,065
From my research, they do PREFER turbine, but they do not require it. Now realize that that was for the PAX side out of Hong Kong, and for the freight side they do want at least 1000 turbine...not sure if it was PIC or just turbine though. Not so bad, especially when you figure you will make over 80K your first year on the pax side before benefits and "per diem."...much less on the freight side. You just have too live in HK, which can't be too bad....right? Anyone have experience in HK?
PLANEANIMAL
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2003
- Posts
- 25
Flyingdutchman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2002
- Posts
- 1,571
(quote from Pprune)
---
CX general info for those interested in joining
Hi all
I have been emailing info, thoughts and comments about CX to a friend with a second interview, I realised that this may be useful to others out there, who don't know anyone in HK, who can help them.
I have retyped out my friend's questions and my responses, I hope it helps. Please note these are just my opinions. There are other opinions out there!
What's it like living in HK?
Living in HK is very subjective. Some people hate it and can't wait to get out, others love it and won't leave. Really its what you make of it, It also depends what you like doing in your spare time. The big difference you notice is that, when in the NZ scene you don't have much spare time and any spare time you have is spent studying or moving up the aviation ladder. You get into CX, move to HK then once the training is finished you realise you have so much spare time you don't know what to do with it. This is where people become disgruntled, it's not because HK is such a bad place it is that people have all this new time on there hands and things are not as accessible as back at home. If you really want to do something up here you can do it though.
Where do people live?
DB If you want to live with everyone knowing your business, and to risk being corrupted by the moaners and complainers who have no touch on life outside DB, That said it has a large expat community and is a haven for kids. South Lantau for outdoor living, mountain biking, trekking, kayaking etc, midlevels for partying, Tung Chung for traveling as it is close to the airport and also easily accessible to all parts of HK. Saikung or Gold Coast for boat owning.
What can I afford with the housing allowance?
You can have 900 sqft in central or 2000sqft in south lantau. There is no perfect apartment but the hardest period is the first two years as you are on reduced housing. You can still have a very nice place though. You can live on the high floor of an apartment complex, have 3 bedrooms and over1200sqft, or 121 sqm. Beautiful views, own gym, tennis courts, squash courts, pool clubhouse etc... I do!!
What about salary?
The pay is 389000 HKD + 21000/month housing + away allowances + medical +15% of salary into a retirement scheme.... Total package is prob around 730000HKD all included. After a year it goes up by HKD4000/ month, and a 30% rise when upgraded. Tax in HK is a flat 15% this may go up steeply over the next 3 years to 16%
Is this survivable?, yes. The guys who say no need to do a reality check with friends living in their home country. I know of a JFO that owns a Ferrari and more than one with late model Porsches!!
What about bases?
There are two types temp and permanent, Temp bases are available after a year and are for 3 months in various places, they are on HK pay with HK housing allowance. You can have one or two per year. (I’m not too sure of the finer details)
Full time bases are available to First officers and above), being eligible is dependant on which base you are after i.e. NZ you must have relief command status (approx 4-5 years in the company). You must also have right to work in that country. The Australasian bases are reasonably easy to get as it is a serious pay cut taking them. Something like 60% no housing allowance no superfund, no child education and paying NZ or Aus tax!!. But it is lifestyle... England bases are pretty full of old pohms and there is a big waiting list. Don’t know why!!
Bases are fleet dependant, London 744, Amsterdam A340, AKL 340, Syd 747, etc..
If you get a command you head back to HK, both with the FO and cmd upgrade they want you on the short haul for a year doing lots of T/O and ldgs.
How hard do you work?
As for me i’m flat out at the moment, 4 trips this month. It is a nice change from the last few months, the max is pretty much 84 productive hours per month. This month I hit 81 hrs, the busiest I have been since joining. That saw me in HK for 17 full days + 4 days either before work or after work. Making me home at some point during the day for 21 days in the month, and away 12. Not too bad when you compare that to other airlines.
What’s in the future for CX?
Rumor has them investigating Russian destinations i.e. Moscow and if the appeal from Dragon Air is dismissed they will be into China within a couple of months.
Pre SARs rumor had another US dest + Milan and Madrid.. Only rumors though! Fact is they have just announced the delivery dates of the 3 new 777-300s, late this year and Feb next year, 3 A330s are due this year and the last 340-600 has just arrived. Lots of crew will be needed. Hopefully upgrades will only be 2 years from starting for new guys
What aircraft do I start on?
They will ask you your preference when you have your second interview but it doesn’t really mean much, if they have a slot on either type they will put you on it, when you upgrade they ask you again what type you want, this is the more important stage and they seem to try a bit harder now. That said I was given a choice when I first started.
Any other suggestions?
Go into the interview happy about the job at CX and also happy with your current job, don’t bag your current company!! Know Handling the big jets inside and out, It’s actually really relevant to modern practices anyway.
And most of all try to Relax smile and be friendly..
I hope this give a little insight. One thing to do is look at the number of CX drivers in the past that have moved back to there home countries airline...In my case I know of only one that went back to Air NZ.
Good luck and all the best for your interviews, looking at all the other jobs out there, I believe CX even with all its issues is the best airline out there to work for!
----
friendly regards,
FD
---
CX general info for those interested in joining
Hi all
I have been emailing info, thoughts and comments about CX to a friend with a second interview, I realised that this may be useful to others out there, who don't know anyone in HK, who can help them.
I have retyped out my friend's questions and my responses, I hope it helps. Please note these are just my opinions. There are other opinions out there!
What's it like living in HK?
Living in HK is very subjective. Some people hate it and can't wait to get out, others love it and won't leave. Really its what you make of it, It also depends what you like doing in your spare time. The big difference you notice is that, when in the NZ scene you don't have much spare time and any spare time you have is spent studying or moving up the aviation ladder. You get into CX, move to HK then once the training is finished you realise you have so much spare time you don't know what to do with it. This is where people become disgruntled, it's not because HK is such a bad place it is that people have all this new time on there hands and things are not as accessible as back at home. If you really want to do something up here you can do it though.
Where do people live?
DB If you want to live with everyone knowing your business, and to risk being corrupted by the moaners and complainers who have no touch on life outside DB, That said it has a large expat community and is a haven for kids. South Lantau for outdoor living, mountain biking, trekking, kayaking etc, midlevels for partying, Tung Chung for traveling as it is close to the airport and also easily accessible to all parts of HK. Saikung or Gold Coast for boat owning.
What can I afford with the housing allowance?
You can have 900 sqft in central or 2000sqft in south lantau. There is no perfect apartment but the hardest period is the first two years as you are on reduced housing. You can still have a very nice place though. You can live on the high floor of an apartment complex, have 3 bedrooms and over1200sqft, or 121 sqm. Beautiful views, own gym, tennis courts, squash courts, pool clubhouse etc... I do!!
What about salary?
The pay is 389000 HKD + 21000/month housing + away allowances + medical +15% of salary into a retirement scheme.... Total package is prob around 730000HKD all included. After a year it goes up by HKD4000/ month, and a 30% rise when upgraded. Tax in HK is a flat 15% this may go up steeply over the next 3 years to 16%
Is this survivable?, yes. The guys who say no need to do a reality check with friends living in their home country. I know of a JFO that owns a Ferrari and more than one with late model Porsches!!
What about bases?
There are two types temp and permanent, Temp bases are available after a year and are for 3 months in various places, they are on HK pay with HK housing allowance. You can have one or two per year. (I’m not too sure of the finer details)
Full time bases are available to First officers and above), being eligible is dependant on which base you are after i.e. NZ you must have relief command status (approx 4-5 years in the company). You must also have right to work in that country. The Australasian bases are reasonably easy to get as it is a serious pay cut taking them. Something like 60% no housing allowance no superfund, no child education and paying NZ or Aus tax!!. But it is lifestyle... England bases are pretty full of old pohms and there is a big waiting list. Don’t know why!!
Bases are fleet dependant, London 744, Amsterdam A340, AKL 340, Syd 747, etc..
If you get a command you head back to HK, both with the FO and cmd upgrade they want you on the short haul for a year doing lots of T/O and ldgs.
How hard do you work?
As for me i’m flat out at the moment, 4 trips this month. It is a nice change from the last few months, the max is pretty much 84 productive hours per month. This month I hit 81 hrs, the busiest I have been since joining. That saw me in HK for 17 full days + 4 days either before work or after work. Making me home at some point during the day for 21 days in the month, and away 12. Not too bad when you compare that to other airlines.
What’s in the future for CX?
Rumor has them investigating Russian destinations i.e. Moscow and if the appeal from Dragon Air is dismissed they will be into China within a couple of months.
Pre SARs rumor had another US dest + Milan and Madrid.. Only rumors though! Fact is they have just announced the delivery dates of the 3 new 777-300s, late this year and Feb next year, 3 A330s are due this year and the last 340-600 has just arrived. Lots of crew will be needed. Hopefully upgrades will only be 2 years from starting for new guys
What aircraft do I start on?
They will ask you your preference when you have your second interview but it doesn’t really mean much, if they have a slot on either type they will put you on it, when you upgrade they ask you again what type you want, this is the more important stage and they seem to try a bit harder now. That said I was given a choice when I first started.
Any other suggestions?
Go into the interview happy about the job at CX and also happy with your current job, don’t bag your current company!! Know Handling the big jets inside and out, It’s actually really relevant to modern practices anyway.
And most of all try to Relax smile and be friendly..
I hope this give a little insight. One thing to do is look at the number of CX drivers in the past that have moved back to there home countries airline...In my case I know of only one that went back to Air NZ.
Good luck and all the best for your interviews, looking at all the other jobs out there, I believe CX even with all its issues is the best airline out there to work for!
----
friendly regards,
FD
PLANEANIMAL
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2003
- Posts
- 25
KC-10 Driver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2002
- Posts
- 503
Share this page
Latest posts
-
-
Question Stiff throttle assembly - Carbon Cub FX-3
- Latest: Cactus Charlie
Latest resources
-
-
-
-
-
AC 90-89C - Amateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing HandbookAmateur-Built Aircraft and Ultralight Flight Testing Handbook
- Neal
- Updated:
