jasongreen

I have been looking into the possibility of heading over to Cathay Pacific, but I needed some questions answered.

(1) Is and ATPL the same as an ATP (just the ICAO term for it?)
(2) I want to continue to live in Los Angeles, so the LAX base would be great. I heard from some people that YYZ and LAX are the two offered bases, but you can only get them if you enter as a First Officer (not a SO?)

I think thats all I have now.... Thanks

Sike

The "L" just stands for license. So yes, you have an ATPL.

Latest rumor is that there will be no DEFO interviewing for about 6 months.

Tumbleweed

Los Angeles and San Francisco are both U.S. bases on the passenger side. You will only be eligible to bid for Vancouver if you are legal to work/live in Canada. Anchorage, Chicago, JFK and Atlanta are bases on the cargo side. If you are lucky enough to be hired as a DEFO you would have to choose one of the cargo domiciles. Then, as a cargo pilot I think you won't have an opportunity to transition to the PAX side until after 3 years (at which point you would have to move to Hong Kong) If you are hired as a SO you will have to move to Hong Kong. It sounds like the time to advance from a SO to a FO is approaching 4 years. I could be wrong on that. Another thing to consider is that you are not able to jump seat on U.S. carriers if for example you needed to commute to SFO or ORD. You would have to buy zed fare or ID-90 tickets for each leg of your commute.

myoface

Tumbleweed:

The information you have given is false. There is no more restriction to being on the cargo side as a new joiner. If you are hired, they ask you where you want to be based. You can choose any base that you have the ability to work in. US citizens can work as pilots for CX in Canada, but generally cant live there. This works well if you choose to commute to YVR or YYZ. THe base you choose determines the aircraft you are on and when you go to class. example: LAX is a 747-400 base. (and I have heard that there is going to be 777 base there in the near future) If you choose LAX and are on the -400, you will fly both the pax AC and the freighter. If you choose YVR you will be trained on the A-340 (although I have heard there will be a 777 base there soon as well) and only fly pax AC (no freighters other than the 747) There is a 4 year restriction to base in Hong Kong as an FO for new joiners under the new COS. All SOs are based in Hong Kong from the start.

Good luck

GE90

According to the aircrew seniority list (as of 10 min. ago) YVR is already a 777 base. (and a senior one at that.....ie no chance at all of DEFO)

If you get DEFO B744 in any NAM base (other than your line training) it is very unlikely you will ever fly PAX aircraft until after 2011. The reason being is that the SO on board will almost always be senior to you and will be on COS 99, therefore needing by-pass pay. Crew control/rostering will not roster you for any PAX flights unless they are desperate.

One more thing to add, in Cathay you CANNOT choose your base, OR aircraft type, OR position. You can give them a "preference", but this in no way means you will get it. Cathay will give you what they want to give you based on your experience and their need.....end of story.

And to add, there is a B744F base in YVR, but it also is senior (for the freighter guys at least)


Hope this helps.

Cheers

myoface

GE,

Is it possible that the 744 base in YVR went away but there are still people on the aircraft that have not trained on the 340? Someone told me that once you are in a base you can never be forced out of it, even if the base goes away completely? When I interviewed, they made no mention of a 744 base in YVR. When I told them I prefered a YVR base, they said that would be on the 340.
Also, curious if you can tell when the 777 base started in YVR?

GE90

The PAX B744 base still exists in YVR because the aircraft still operates 888/889. The B777 base exists on paper in YVR but not in operation yet as the aircraft has not taken over 888/889. October is the transition date. The B744F base in YVR is only for more senior freighter guys and is very small. You would have to bid into it after being in the company for a few years.

As for the A340 DEFO positions in YVR, they hired very few "lucky" people into that position and I have heard there will be no more. The same goes for the YYZ B777 base.

Right now everything is up in the air as the company is evaluating its current situation. But I would plan on a USAB if you were hired as a DEFO.

Hope this helps. Time for me to get some sleep and dream of amenity kits. :-|

PCLCREW

From what I have heard from some people I know over there is that training is backed up and all proposed interviews have been defered until 09'.
Most of the US regional pilots that were lucky enough to get hired went as DESO's even if they were Capts.
They are taking most of the Oasis guys, and moving some guys over from Dragon Air.
But I dont work there so take it for what its worth.

myoface

GE,

Good to know, I guess I am one of those few (or at least will be if nothing changes!) Supposed to be YVR based on the a340 and start training later this year, but who knows with the industry these days!

4everFO

YVR is a 777 base because they have begun to convert 340 and 744 pilots to the 777. None have checked to line yet, they are still in training, but show as 777 pilots because you transfer fleets before you start training. So yes it is a 777 base. All YVR pilots will eventually be trained to the 777, as the plan is to have only the 777 flying pax to NAM.

DEFO on the 744 will fly pax if they are based at LAX or SFO. Check the rosters. There are brand new FOs flying 3 3 day trips a monh LAX-HKG-LAX, while I am rotting on my beautiful 10-11 day trip through ANC. There is also a DEFO already based at SFO, nothing personal against them but it is complete crap that they are getting better schedules than those of us that have been here 1-3 years and may never see the PAX fleet in NAM due to DEFOs on the 777/340/744.

You will never get a YVR base on the B744.

GE90, you a new joiner on the 777?

FO