CX calling for interviews

[skytrain]

Cathay Pacific has some big plans for expansion of their freighters. Rumor has it somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-12 more 747's (roughly 1/2 to double current fleet size), some to be converted from passenger airplanes, and at least one purchased new. Something's going on, because they gave me a call and also a friend of mine. Pauline rang just after 9 p.m. last night and wondered if I'd be interested in interviewing for the FO position with their freight division. Ah..., yeah! So interview is scheduled on Feb 23rd in Manhattan and it's on my dime. Just glad that they foot the bill for the second interview. That's if I get that far. The numbers and dates are as follows: Initial online app sometime this summer. CX official app received Mid Aug dated 12 Aug. Overnighted back to them 26 Aug. Received confirmation of receipt about 2 weeks later. Nothing heard till last night, Jan 11th. Initial interview 23 Feb. Total time 2800 w/ PIC of 1800.
Anybody else out there get an invite? First round's on me at Joey's in LGB.

 

[fracflyer]

I wish I would get the call.
Received the App early Sep and mailed in right away. Received letter from Cathay saying they had received it mid Sept.

4800 TT
1400 PIC

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Out of curiosity, must you have an International ATPL? I have an ATP, so I thought I did not qualify. Is that right?

 

[Networ-King]

Drunk man,

Your ATP is an ATPL ( Airline Transport License) it is issued by the FAA and it is good for ICAO, but if you see them asking for JAA qualifications then you have to go take the 14 or 15 tests and pay the extra cash to be qualified. I don't know what Cathay wants, but sounds to me you have the mins easy. Good luck.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Newtor-

Thanks, I'll send in a res. I had received a form letter from them earlier in the year and did not think I was qualified because of that one requirement. Apparently, you need about 10 hours dual and then you must pass a written and a flight check to get the international deal.

 

[NEDude]

How long to hear back from them?

I e-mailed them a resume about two weeks ago. I know a few guys who had less than 1500TT and got a "No Thanks" letter in a week. Currently at 2300TT, 450 121 PIC and 1300 total 121.

Thanks in advance.

 

[CHQ Pilot]

CX Freighter Mins

I received word directly from the HR department in HK about the minimums for the US based Freighter division. The minimums were (as on 12/15)

5000 TT with 3000 Jet or Command Heavy Turboprop time
or
Military with 2000TT and 1500 Fast Jet Hours

She informed me that this was for the US based side. The minimums for CX Passenger fleet are a lot lower, but you MUST live in HK and be a relief officer (no flying, just an autopilot babysitter) for at least 3 years. You can get more info on pprune.org about CX and the living conditions.

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

no flying, just an autopilot babysitter

Not true. You're the Designated Eater and Captain's Sexual Advisor... If I want your f**king opinion, I'll ask for it.

Guys, get real. For about $90K a year and 16% tax, who cares what you do and who you do it with. Come to VHHH, learn some Cantonese - "love you long time" - nope, sorry, that's Vietnam - and get in on the ground floor of the "world's best airline" (their advertising copy, not mine).

3 years as Second Officer +
8 - 10 years as First Officer
--------------------------
Widebody Command

Things could be a lot worse. Who knows, you might even enjoy it. Please, we need some Canadians and Yanks here. The Poms and Ozzies are REALLY starting to p*ss me off.

 

[justApilot]

Congrats guys, but not to rain on anyone's parade have you researched what has been going on with the pilots v management at CX for the past several years. It/they are a funcking mess. Good luck.

 

[skytrain]

Hey justApilot,

Thanks for the heads up, but it took me an inordinate amount of time to read your whole post. For some reason, my eyes kept wondering left of page...

 

[center]

Hello Capt. Undy Pants,

About the Canadians, aren't you forgetting that we already have a seniority list that consists of over 25% Canadian nationals? I am one of them. I am including cadets who are both Canadian, and HK ID holders. I also fit under this category, or at least I did many years ago. Starting to get old.

Cheers

 

[KC-10 Driver]

This may be old news now, but I've been out of the airline/union arena for a while...

Is there still a hiring ban on CX by IFALPA? If there is still a ban, I would have to really think about taking a position there.

 

[Varig]

Nope, it's gone!!

 

[Diesel]

anybody know the schedule and the pay scale?

Is the JFK base junior?

 

[Dieterly]

Skytrain,

You are against cabotage and you wanna work for CX? Don't really get it since I assume, CX would benefit from cabotage...

 

[Cardinal]

That's a stretch, Dieterly. CX pay and cost structure, while it doesn't keep up with Delta2K, is not embarassingly, third world, Geo Metro driving, ramen noodle eating low. CX, EK, and BA are not the problem. Essentially if it's a good enough place that a self-respecting American can and would apply, it's not a problem. It opening the floodgates and allowing in Groupo TACA, Ryanair, and the like that would be scary.

 

[skytrain]

4 outta 5

Looks like I'll have a shot at Dim Sum and Tsing Tao beer this summer. 4 out of 5 guys that I know passed the first interview in New York. I got tired of waiting and since it was 3 weeks since the interview, I called Sunday night (Monday morning their time) and asked Pauline Kwan (HR) if she had the results yet. She said hold on a minute (seemed like a decade) then came back on and said yes, that I did successfully pass the first interview and that the second would probably be sometime in May.

 

[center]

skytrain,

Just for info purposes, Tsing Tao is not a Hong Kong beer. It is from the mainland. Most of us in Hong Kong drink Heini..... Tsing Tao is the cheap version. Well Capt. Undy, what do you think? The Old Dakota times.

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

I was going to say something, but then I thought it would make me look like a wiseacre...glad you said something and covered, like any good F/O should!

Tsing Tao - UGH. Nasty. San Mig, ditto. If it's my shout, it's Castle and if I'm being bought FOR, I'll take a Heineken, thanks.

Dim Sum...Hmmm. You really like Chicken Lips and Fish Butts, Skytrain?

Dim Sum means "touch the heart" in Cantonese, probably becuse it will send your cholesterol off the charts!

Click here for a Dim Sum guide. I like hargau myself - shrimp dumplings. mmm-mmm good.

 

[skytrain]

Dim Sum

Capt Underpants,
Most people that I take to "authentic" chinese cuisine enjoy just about all the dishes until you tell them it's beef tripe or chicken lips and butt parts! But when you're on a budget, that's all one can afford, plus the Tsing Tao helps it go down quicker.