Questions for Cathay Pacific Pilots

[i'mbatman]

Hi!

I think "Relief Captain" is some type of FO at Cathay.

cliff
YIP

Yes. A relief Captain is an FO that has done an extra sim. All new hires are doing this now. Its not a captain position or any more $.

 

[Mayday911]

Mayday:

I spoke to this gentleman and it sounds as though it did happen. Below is a section of a PM I initially got from his father. I am only including a short portion of the entire message as he asked I not post his letter. I can only go by what I read and hear.

Regards,

BigRed1
-------------------------------------------------
...He finished ground school and IOE Jan 1, 06 for CX the same day UA recalled him. He took a bypass.

His usual sked was two six day trips a month. It varied some LAX-SFO-ANC (RON) then ANC-HKG (RON) HKG-ANC (RON) then ANC-LAX. If the plane on the next leg was passing though SFO he would deadhead staying on the plane. Twice CX flew him to ATL to meet his freighter; another time he ended up in JFK. CX flew him to SFO.

He was moving along at CX. He upgraded to relief captain in 11 months; usually takes 18 months...

Chalk this up to a difference in terms, CX call the IRO, relief pilot, food boy (whatever you happen to call it) the relief commander.

Mayday

 

[BigRed1]

Yes. A relief Captain is an FO that has done an extra sim. All new hires are doing this now. Its not a captain position or any more $.

Hmmm. Interesting. CX certainly has a lot of different titles. Relief "Captain" certainly sounds cooler than some of the other more standard terms most other airlines use. Thanks all, for the clarifications.

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

It never has been called "Relief Captain" - the closest it ever came to that was "Relief Commander". There is only one designated captain on a Cathay flight deck, even when two have been scheduled together.

A relief commander is not the designated eater, that's the second officer (cruise relief) - a one-striper.

 

[Dieterly]

I thought it was "relief pilot in charge"?

 

[Cpt. Underpants]

Yeah, whatever. Point is, not "captain".