ryguy

You aren't an SO forever. You are expected to be able to handle the aircraft like anyone else should you need to take control in an emergency. Right now the market is bearing applicants with much higher time. Maybe in a few years we will be back to the lower time guys. If you were the company would you hire low timers when you have jet Captains applying for the job?

The cadet training and initial SO training is done by a company called Flight Training Adelaide.

proskuneho

Thanks for the further input. I do agree that it is almost always better to hire pilots with more experience. However, I thought Cathay's mentality was to get young pilots early (ie 1000 hrs or so) so they could train them to do things that Cathay way.
In comparison, I used to manage a flight school, and the two worst hiring mistakes I ever made were two seasoned airline pilots on furlough. They turned out to be bitter, set in their ways, unteachable, and impatient horrible instructors.
I am just a little sad, and wondering what to do. Cathay has been my goal for over a year now, and I thought after years of management that the DESO program would be an affordable way to transfer to the flying side without the pain of the regionals. I have a wife and 2 kids, I just don't know if it is too late for me to be able to afford my dream to fly.
The fact that guys from all over the world are lining up to move to Hong Kong and sit SO after having 3000 to over 4000 hrs really says great things about CX. I'll just have to wait a few more years to get that much experience. I would still love to do it. Maybe if I can't afford the regionals I'll get a job at Flight Training Adelaide as an instructor...

LejetB744

Lax is also a freighter base. If you were to join today, you would join under the unified pay scale. You would probably operate both the freighter and Pax aircraft. The 3 year thing is a thing of the past. It only applies to those that have been grandfathered prior Jan1st2008.

LejetB744

By the way, ATP verses ATPL. L stands for license. Spelled differently depending on where you come from. A license expires. In the USA, it's called a certificate. It has no expiration dates. ICAO, Promotes understanding and security through cooperative aviation regulation. Don't quote me on the dates, but it was founded under the 1914 Paris convention, called ICAN then. If I am correct, it moved its HQ thru thru 1945 Chicago convention, and became ICAO. In the early 70's, it moved its HQ to Montreal. If your country of licensing is an ICAO contracting state, then your certificate/license is ICAO by virtue. I hope this helps. if I am wrong on certain dates and data, I apologize. it's been a long time since I left school.

LejetB744

Mostly crap. if you need any further info, just email or use instant messenger.

myoface

Lejet,
i put you on my skype...would like to ask a few questions about cx when you have the time....

thanks

4everFO

Grandfathered?....more like screwed royally!! If you get hired today on the -400 in LAX you will mostly fly Passenger flights, mostly. Doing 3-4 day trips and 9 total days of work a month while we freighter only guys get to enjoy 5-12 trips through ANC over and back.

LAX is short -400 FOs on the pax fleet, and all of the vacancies on the latest bid for LAX were for the 777, so guess what those 777 positions will also go to new guys.

FO

captchrisL

Hi everyone,

New to APC but have been reading your posts about CP. Does anyone know the women pilot situation at CP or anywhere overseas for that matter. I already know KAL will not hire a DECA on the 777 until one of their own upgrades and after reading KAL posts, it's not where I want to be anyway. How about CP or any other SE Asia carrier?

Also when they say you have to be 55 and under for a DECA, is there another way to be in the left seat at 57?

marcal

There may be somewhere on the order of about 40 female pilots at CX. In their 61 yr history its was only last yr that one of them became a captain. Its not impossible at CX if you're a female but it is not easy. This place is a bit old school and you WILL get more scrutiny than your male buddies. I can't see this place giving a female a rapid command. Not because you are not capable, but just because.

proskuneho

Hello Cathay pilots,
What is the schedule like for a Second Officer? Is there any significant washout in the SO program? How long does it typically take to earn an upgrade to FO? Where is the Cathay housing in Hong Kong, is it on Lantau island? Do most FOs live in the housing provided by Cathay, or do they use the housing allowance to live elsewhere?
In today's market, what should someone with only 900TT/150 ME do to earn the right experience to apply at Cathay? I know the qualifications listed for the DESO program on the website fall far short of reality, so what do you suggest I do? What things could I work on to put my resume higher in the pile?
Thanks