Nine 74's for Cathay

[Cathay747400]

Just read that we are going to be getting nine 747-400's all delivered by 2006. One brand new and the rest used. The new one will be a freighter, 4 of the used will be freighters and the other 4 will be pax aircraft. This is in addition to the brand new 2 777's and 6 A330's we ordered just this year. Cathay will be at 103 aircraft up from 86 by 2006/07. Get your apps in the water is nice and warm.

 

[Steve 737]

I assume you are on the freighter side here in the U.S. What is your schedule like ?

 

[Cathay747400]

Basically, two trips a month, just one in August. 7 day trips usually with about 18 days off a month.

This month I got home the 2nd. Reserve on 12th&14th, fly the 17th-21st, Reserve 27th&29th. All else off, so that's 20 days off potentially.

 

[On Your Six]

What's the first year pay for the 744F FO? How many of the freighter guys eventually end up on the passenger side? Do they start as FOs on the pax side or SOs or can the choose another fleet type when they get to the pax side? Could you ultimately live in the US but fly a 777/A330 based out of HKG?

 

[toad572]

Cathay

I just did my Phase I last week in NY and here is some info about the company that they sent me.

First year FO pay on the 744F in the US is $61,308
Full medical and dental for you and family starting day one
15.5% of salary will be contributed by company into basically a mutual fund
Bases JFK, ORD, LAX, ANC
Locked in on freighter side for 3 years before you can bid for the pax fleet.
Still not real clear on how you can live in the US, but fly other equipment, however I do know that it is possible.
This is a great company. I'd send in your stuff right away.

Waiting to see the good letter show up in the mail in a few weeks!

Good luck

 

[Cathay747400]

Previous post is spot on. Most of the F/O's on freight are going to pax fleet either in HK or US. The others are going to command on the B744F. There isn't anybody in the USA flying the B777 or A330 in HK right now. All 777 are HK based with A330's/A340's in Europe, Australia and Canada and of course HK. Commuting to HK from USA would be just about impossible and you would probably be dead in a year. Hong Kong is a really cool place and I myself hope to go when my 3 years is up however, commands on the 744 freighter are coming quick now so I might stay a while on that. Point--- a lot of different things you can do which is what makes Cathay a great gig. Apply now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CSY Mon]

All roses, yeah, yeah, but is the hireing-ban resolved?

Is the 49 guys that got fired without cause re-instated?
If not, will they ever be? Is there still a war between the pilot group and upper managment?

Will new hires be looked upon as scabs by captn's and check airmen as well as fellow F/Os?

If any company needs a union now, and in the past, that would be Cathay.
Understand that after the Chinese took over Hong Kong, unions were banned, out-lawed, illegal.....?

Understand there is 10 different pay scales and the junior guys end up on the bottom of the K scale?

Perhaps my info is old, and perhaps things have improved, if so, pls update, enlighten and disrecard the above.

Thanks.

CSY Mon

 

[Cathay747400]

Be glad too, YES YOUR INFORMATION IS OLD! Cathay has and for some time a union. The ban was over a year ago as well and relations with management and the pilots is good. K scale, nope, we do have diffent levels depending on where you start. I will tell you this, it is far better than any US carrier except for maybe Delta but we all know that will change shortly. Cathay has had it's ups and down like every other carrier in the US and World. Even little darling Southwest has had it' labor problems. Eventually it will hit Jetblue. Nothing against them or the employees, it's just the nature of the business, always has been always will be.


The nay sayers can bash Cathay all they want and sit and watch the world go by or jump aboard and ride one of the most succesful carriers in the world. IT IS THE BEST JOB I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE!
And that's all I go to say about that.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Delta???? Me thinks you been out of country long time.

 

[TonyC]

All roses, yeah, yeah, but is the hireing-ban resolved?

Is the 49 guys that got fired without cause re-instated?
If not, will they ever be? Is there still a war between the pilot group and upper managment?

Will new hires be looked upon as scabs by captn's and check airmen as well as fellow F/Os?

If any company needs a union now, and in the past, that would be Cathay.
Understand that after the Chinese took over Hong Kong, unions were banned, out-lawed, illegal.....?

Understand there is 10 different pay scales and the junior guys end up on the bottom of the K scale?

Perhaps my info is old, and perhaps things have improved, if so, pls update, enlighten and disrecard the above.

Thanks.

CSY Mon

I'm not a Cathay guy, but I've tried to follow along...

Although they adopted the name "49'ers" because of the first wave of sackings, there were alctually more - - 51, I believe. One of them died when he "fell" from the balcony of a tall building - - so he won't be re-instated.


The Hong Kong Pilots Association is affiliated with and has received support from ALPA International.


The hiring ban has been lifted. However, I would be very interested to know if any pilots were hired during the hiring ban, and how they are being treated now. To be sure, if there are such creatures, they deserve every comfort afforded any other SCAB on the planet.


I wore the Yellow Ribbon in support - - I'd be curious to know how things are going now.

 

[Andy]

What's the max age that Cathay will hire new FOs?
Do you have to resign your seniority? (For us furloughees)

 

[Cathay747400]

Well let me say this about that. Most of your information was correct. Yes, people were hired during the ban, I was NOT one of them. It is over now and has been put behind us. Those that did are treated well as far as I can tell. Now, as far as your statement about those that did should be treated as scabs, there isn't a bigger union on this planet that has violated that very cause, that being your union itself ALPA. So before you throw rocks, check to make sure you don't live in a glass house. Remember, you pay dues (1.95% of your salary?) that has more scabs as you put it, than anyone else in the airline biz.

 

[Cathay747400]

I believe it is 46, the age limit.


I have to say again that I find it really interesting that an ALPA member of all people would write such a comment. Ask you brothers what they think of all your so called scabs. I mean **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** dude.

 

[mar]

Let it go Tony

Yeah, you know what? It's over. Let it go Tony.

You can't possibly do any good by stirring this crap up over and over.

It doesn't (didn't) involve you and besides that, there can never be scabs without a strike.

Move on.

 

[ETOPS-787]

Interview

I did my phase I interview in NYC last week, and i am waiting to hear-hopefully- the good news. Just can't wait to start.

 

[Cathay747400]

Thank you MAR.


Where do you fly the six, or do you still?

 

[mar]

Life story:

I 'flew' the -six for Northern Air Cargo in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

I interviewed with CX during the ban last year and was rejected.

I have a few friends at CX that *encouraged* me to apply.

I've been around and around with TonyC about the so called 'scab' thing.

Best wishes. I think CX is a fantastic company and would've been proud to work there.

 

[TonyC]

Yeah, you know what? It's over. Let it go Tony.

You can't possibly do any good by stirring this crap up over and over.

It doesn't (didn't) involve you and besides that, there can never be scabs without a strike.

Move on.

What's over? Did the 49ers get their jobs back? Tell their families it's over.

I was not attempting to stir anything - - I was trying to correct a few things CSY Mon got wrong. Also, I politely asked, as I have on previous threads, about the disposition of the 49ers - - nobody seems inclined to answer.

As long as I'm a part of the aviation industry, it affects me. And, Yes, there can be scabs without a strike. We've been over that before - - we disagree.

I've been around and around with TonyC about the so called 'scab' thing.

Best wishes. I think CX is a fantastic company and would've been proud to work there.

Actually, if I recall the conversation correctly, I inquired how you knew so much about the Cathay interview process - - I didn't realized you had applied during the ban. Once you informed me of the details and we exchanged opinions, I dropped the subject out of a personal respect for you. We each knew where the other stood, but we drug it out no longer.

I will not, however, take an oath of eternal silence on the issue. When the subject comes up, I will participate. As I said, nobody seems proud to explain the disposition of the 49ers.

I tried to find the exact thread where we exchanged ideas about Cathay and scabbing, but came up short. (Perhaps it was through PMs that we conversed.) What I DID find during my search, however, is quite disturbing. Your foreknowledge of the hiring ban at Cathay did not discourage you from interviewing, you would have taken a job during the hiring ban if offered, you failed to see the logic of a hiring ban - - hiring SOs wouldn't be replacing Captains- - and you think it would be OK to scab if you don't support the union's decision to strike. I find those views repugnant.

We have not gone 'round and 'round by any stretch of the imagination, and I doubt that such an engagement would prove fruitful. I can understand why you would be very sensitive about the issue; you can at the very least give me the same level of respect for the principles which I support.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Could anyone tell me what competitive figures are to get an interview at Cathay? This sounds like a dream job for me.... Im 31, single, and love travelling internationally. As you can see in my profile, I've got about 4300 hours, recently typed in the Falcon 20 but sadly no PIC yet.... *5 more hours of IOE!* Im guessing I'm not very competitive.

Another question... can you ID-90 on any/all American carriers? how about jumpseat?

Yet another question, I did a search for Cathay on these boards and it made it seem like getting based in the US, in any capacity was only after being at the company for several years.... Is this not true if you fly the freighters?

thanks for all the upcoming info and I'll gladly accept PMs from current or former Cathay guys!

 

[Cathay747400]

Apply if you really want to work here and stay on top of it. Great job.

Now Tony C. I understand your issue with striking and scabs and all. My father was on the MEC at his airline and I, up to a few years ago, was an ALPA member. No, the 49ers (51ers) have not got there jobs back. But I will ask some questions as well, what about the Pan am, Eastern (Non scabs), Braniff and a host of other carriers that have gone by the way side, have gotten. ALPA has screwed more people than CX ever has. You cannot have it both ways I am afraid. Talk to the TWAy guys about what has happened to them. It is easy for us who have great jobs in this industry and be very very lucky to criticize others. The reality is that sometimes people get shafted and some like myself and you, get a big break. My father died a week after Transamerica shut down at 44 from a massive stroke and left 4 children with nothing. You would think I would have know better but flying airplanes is great but comes with side affects. If you are going to be critical of CX, be more critical of ALPA. The stories are endless.