Cathay Pacific

[suupah]

Hey,

Wondering if anyone could help me with any info on Cathay pacific? I was wondering if they are in need of pilots, If they recruit americans and if pilots there generally like it.

thanks
v

 

[Bjammin]

I'm in Adelaide Austrailia going through some ground school right now for Cathay. I am the very most junior guy in the company, at least for another 3 days. They are very much recruiting pilots, both for Direct Entry First Officer on the 744 freighter and Second Officers, kind of like a cruise pilot, on the PAX fleet. As an FO you would probably based in your home country, as an SO you would probably have to move to Hong Kong. The hour requirments for each is listed in the Cathay Pacific home page, www.cathaypacific.com, under careers as well as info on each path.
I can tell you that so far this is the absolute best decision I could have made out of the airlines I interviewed for incluiding SWA. The people here, both fellow students and instructors, are the most professional and fun I have ever had the chance to work with, including my time in the military.
If you want to fly heavy metal international, work with great people, and make a very good starting salery, then I would get an app in ASAP. Be prepared for a very tough interview process and a possible long wait.

U.S. Navy Pilot
3100 TT
2500 Turbine
2500 PIC
2200 Turbine PIC

DIRECT ENTRY FO 744, LAX BASED

App in: May 2003
Update: Nov 2003
Call: Apr 2004
1st interview: May 2004
2nd interview: Aug 2004
Call: Mar 2005
Class Date: Apr 2005

 

[House_X]

I'm in Adelaide Austrailia going through some ground school right now for Cathay. I am the very most junior guy in the company, at least for another 3 days. They are very much recruiting pilots, both for Direct Entry First Officer on the 744 freighter and Second Officers, kind of like a cruise pilot, on the PAX fleet. As an FO you would probably based in your home country, as an SO you would probably have to move to Hong Kong. The hour requirments for each is listed in the Cathay Pacific home page, www.cathaypacific.com, under careers as well as info on each path.
I can tell you that so far this is the absolute best decision I could have made out of the airlines I interviewed for incluiding SWA. The people here, both fellow students and instructors, are the most professional and fun I have ever had the chance to work with, including my time in the military.
If you want to fly heavy metal international, work with great people, and make a very good starting salery, then I would get an app in ASAP. Be prepared for a very tough interview process and a possible long wait.

U.S. Navy Pilot
3100 TT
2500 Turbine
2500 PIC
2200 Turbine PIC

DIRECT ENTRY FO 744, LAX BASED

App in: May 2003
Update: Nov 2003
Call: Apr 2004
1st interview: May 2004
2nd interview: Aug 2004
Call: Mar 2005
Class Date: Apr 2005

Wow, you have to wait a year for the 1st interview...and you had to update as well? Jeez...Your class date was nearly two years from your application date. DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA#N!

 

[Bjammin]

Gotta start planning early. It's not only Cathay, I know many guys that have had apps in for years with companies like SWA and UPS an still nothing.

 

[On Your Six]

Route Profiles...

As a 744 FO on the freight side, what sorts of routes will you be flying - mainly Pacific or will you get some Europe and Middle East too? How many days of flying per month on average?

Also, is it true that you would have to move to the SO position on the 400 and move to Hong Kong if you wanted to eventually move to the PAX side?

 

[say again]

Do they take FAA certs. or do we have to convert them over?

 

[TriJet]

I'm in Adelaide Austrailia going through some ground school right now for Cathay. I am the very most junior guy in the company, at least for another 3 days. They are very much recruiting pilots, both for Direct Entry First Officer on the 744 freighter and Second Officers, kind of like a cruise pilot, on the PAX fleet. As an FO you would probably based in your home country, as an SO you would probably have to move to Hong Kong. The hour requirments for each is listed in the Cathay Pacific home page, www.cathaypacific.com, under careers as well as info on each path.
I can tell you that so far this is the absolute best decision I could have made out of the airlines I interviewed for incluiding SWA. The people here, both fellow students and instructors, are the most professional and fun I have ever had the chance to work with, including my time in the military.
If you want to fly heavy metal international, work with great people, and make a very good starting salery, then I would get an app in ASAP. Be prepared for a very tough interview process and a possible long wait.

U.S. Navy Pilot
3100 TT
2500 Turbine
2500 PIC
2200 Turbine PIC

DIRECT ENTRY FO 744, LAX BASED

App in: May 2003
Update: Nov 2003
Call: Apr 2004
1st interview: May 2004
2nd interview: Aug 2004
Call: Mar 2005
Class Date: Apr 2005

Never heard of any DE F/Os having to go to Adelaide for training.

 

[BeanFighter]

B***s

El Sweato sucks! Keep the faith!!!

 

[Bjammin]

Bean Fighter!!! Had a great time in AUS. Went to an Aussie Football game (Footy), great fun. Maybe better then El-Sweato, miss the flying though. Just got into to Hong Kong.

Mostly Pacific routes on the 744F, but some North American domestic, like Vancouver, Chicago, NY, and ANC. Not really any Mid east or Europe flying while based in North America.
You do not have to become an SO to fly PAX once an FO on the freighter and you do not have to move to Hong Kong either. LAX has both a Freighter and PAX base so after your manditory 3 years as a freight FO you can bid PAX FO if it is available.

Depending in your background you have to take certain Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department Exams. My exemptions were not in when it was time for me to leave so they sent me to Adelaide, AUS to take courses in all of them just in case. My exemptions came thorugh while I was ther and now only have to take a few. Loading, Transport Performance, and the must haves of Hong Kong Air Law, Human Performance, and type rating. Most guys with transport experience only have to take the last three.

 

[Flechas]

Hey Bjammin, how's the SO life there, and how long does it take to upgrade to FO?
Also, what are the chances of someone with my experience to get in?

 

[Brown Cow]

Could someone please throw this crap out of the "majors" board. This is why there are different categories to post things. Moderators????????

 

[Flechas]

Why would this not belong here?

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Just what we need. Another thread category cop.

 

[Flechas]

Yeah no sh!t, like we don't have enough goons already...

 

[psysicx]

What aircraft do they have based in SFO?

 

[jobear]

I recieved an application about two months ago but haven't filled it out as I am recovering from surgery and want everthing done before I send anything into CP. Anyone have suggestions on filling out the Application or any professional services used. PM if you don't want to post it here. And yes I have Davies book and XYZ's guide.

Luck to all
Jobear

Now where's Hong Kong?

 

[leardrivr]

Could someone please throw this crap out of the "majors" board. This is why there are different categories to post things. Moderators????????

Dude! Have you ever been outside of the U.S.? Cathy is a big player in the international scene you narrow minded moron! There is a whole other world out there beyond are borders. Don't know if you will get to see it though?

 

[House_X]

Could someone please throw this crap out of the "majors" board. This is why there are different categories to post things. Moderators????????

Hey now Brown Cow...

Some of us don't have 11000 of PIC heavy jet time to be competitve for UPS. There's still a lot guys going to the streets...Independence, ATA, US Airways the list goes on. CX competitve mins are something like 4000 hrs for DE F/O's....so apparently there's still a lot of pilots interested in CX.

Unless an economic miracle happens in the USA, if a pilot wants to earn a good living and fly heavy jets, foriegn carriers like CX, Emirates, Gulf Air etc are a good option.

 

[Daveman]

How now, Brown Cow?

 

[Bjammin]

One thing I have found after being with this company for a bit is that there is whole other world out there and it is in much better shape aviation wise then the States.

Cathay Pacific is most certianly a major on the world stage and has made more money then SWA and JB put together. Good comment leardriver.

I would send an application in ASAP no matter what. It will take a while and at least 1 interview before you get to Hong Kong and take the medical here.

As far as being an SO, I'm an Direct Entry FO, but the upgrade time is about 3 to 5 years to get from SO to FO then another 5 to 7 years to get command. It will probably be shorter in the future as Cathay is going through a period of growth and retirements.

The mins are listed on the websight, but I truly don't know what is competitive for an SO applicant.

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Pilot Dispute Ends

Cathay Pacific Shares May Rise After Pilots End 4-Year Dispute

April 25 (Bloomberg) -- Shares of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Asia's second-largest airline by market value, may gain after its pilots' union accepted a settlement to end a dispute that began in 2001 when 51 of its members were fired.

``That's good news,'' said Francis Lun, general manager of Fulbright Securities in Ltd. in Hong Kong. ``The shares should rise now that the problem has been solved.''

The Hong Kong-based airline, which employs more than 15,000 people, fired the pilots after a disagreement with the union over pay and scheduling. The settlement offers to rehire 49 of the pilots for cargo flights and treat them as new hires, Carolyn Leung, a Cathay spokeswoman, said by phone yesterday.

An unspecified payment will be made to the union for every pilot who doesn't seek re-employment by May 16, she said.

The Sunday Morning Post said yesterday the payout will be equivalent to 10 months' pay. Leung declined to confirm that figure.

The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association had recommended members accept the airline's latest settlement offer after failing to get the two-thirds majority needed in February to end the dispute.

Union members have been paying up to HK$25,000 ($3,207) a month into a fund to aid the jobless pilots, pushing union dues up to 5 percent of salaries and leading to a sharp drop in union membership, the English-language newspaper said. The dispute was one of the longest running in aviation industry, according to the newspaper.

Union General-Secretary John Findlay wasn't available for comment.

Cathay Pacific shares closed unchanged at HK$14.70 on April 22. The shares added 0.7 percent last week, compared with a 0.4 percent advance by the benchmark Hang Seng Index.

 

[Brown Cow]

All right..........I'll give in!!!!!

At least not everyone ganged up on me. Although, Leardrivr you are a little intense. What airline are you talking about?.....never heard of "Cathy"! Plus, the last time I looked at our bid packages, I would have to say that Brown flies to at least 100 destinations around the world. Trust me, I know places like DBX, CRK, NRT, etc. better than my own neighbourhood.

By the way, I declined an offer from Etihad, because it wasn't my thing. In fact, I also belong to the 95% of pilots who bombed on the CX interview. For those who make it through, I commend you. For those who don't, it's ok. The questions they ask are in another language that most of us don't understand!!!!!

Happy to be brown

 

[LoveGun]

I've been thinking of applying at Cathay. They seem like a great company. I do have a few questions though.

How long is the wait between getting the call for an interview and actually getting the interview? The reason I ask is I am hoping to put studying for their interview until I know I am getting an interview for sure. It seems possible that I could self educate myself enough to be competitive in a Cathay interview, but I don't want to expend that massive amount of time and energy unless I know I'm at least getting a shot.

 

[ERJdca]

LoveGun,

I waited about 2 months from the time i was called to sitting in the interview. As the above post stated i too waited a year from the first interview to class date. If you are interested i suggest you start some research. This is not a place you can wing it-it will show. Interview is very professional and relaxed but demanding. They are not looking for an aerodynamic engineer but they do want to see a strong understanding of aerodynamics and performance for the Tech side (as well as wx/systems/situational ques, etc). The HR side is JUST as important, they are looking for the whole package.

Good Luck to all that apply,
ERJDCA

 

[LoveGun]

ERJDCA,

Thanks. How much studying did you do to prepare for the interview? I am not afraid of putting in some work, however I don't want to burn up a bunch of time studying without knowing if I even have a shot at an interview.

I'll have to do some research on my own. Maybe I'll pick up "Flying the Big Jets" and start the process on some of my long overnights.

Again, thanks for the info.

 

[leardrivr]

Yeah I geuss I was a little rough there! Sorry . My two year old was sreaming in my ear (No!!!! I don't want to take a bath. No!!!!!!) When I reponded to your post. I'm a little concerned about interviewing myself. I mean I know porpa is a fly-by waypoint and I have to tell them I need vectors because I can't make bekol at 190. So what else is there to know about Hong Kong air law? Besides I here the Aussie's and brit's treat us americans like second class airman.

All right..........I'll give in!!!!!

At least not everyone ganged up on me. Although, Leardrivr you are a little intense. What airline are you talking about?.....never heard of "Cathy"! Plus, the last time I looked at our bid packages, I would have to say that Brown flies to at least 100 destinations around the world. Trust me, I know places like DBX, CRK, NRT, etc. better than my own neighbourhood.

By the way, I declined an offer from Etihad, because it wasn't my thing. In fact, I also belong to the 95% of pilots who bombed on the CX interview. For those who make it through, I commend you. For those who don't, it's ok. The questions they ask are in another language that most of us don't understand!!!!!

Happy to be brown