benison
16th October 2009, 02:16
I have an unusual request and I’m hoping someone will take sympathy on me. I’m a Sydney-based, female writer of non-fiction (health books to be precise - one published and another out next year). Last year I had the inspiration to write a novel, which I knocked off in my spare time when the kids were at school. Anyway, I gave it to my publisher (who up till this time has only published non-fiction) to see if she thought it was worth me touting around to other publishers and, lo and behold, she said she wanted to publish it. It will be released early next year and I’m now in a panic to make sure everything is just right.
Anyway, one of my characters is a male Australian airline pilot who, for most of his career at least, flies for Cathay Pacific. My character’s work life happens ‘off stage’ (this is a book geared towards the female market and although certainly not a conventional ‘romance’ is largely about relationships) but want to ensure that the story and dialogue sound reasonably authentic.
I have browsed the history of the Fragrant Harbour forum on PPRuNe and picked up a lots of information. I’ve also spoken to a Qantas captain who (under the assurance of anonymity) has been wonderfully helpful, but I’m still keen to chat to a Cathay pilot, particularly one who has joined as an Australian-based Direct Entry First Officer (DEFO) and has since transferred to Hong Kong.
I guess my first question is: do such individuals exist? From my reading I understand they could technically; that is, transfer from the freighter fleet to the HK-based passenger fleet after the requisite three years or so. However, has this happened in reality, or have Australian-based DEFOs tended to stay put in Oz? I read in one post that suggested that quite a few have elected to take freighter commands and remain at an Australian base. I also understand that Cathay started recruiting Australian-based DEFOs for their passenger fleet a few years ago, but my novel is set slightly in the past (1990s to 2006) and my character needs to have started at Cathay before then.
Even if you don’t strictly fit these criteria I would be interested in hearing from you if you feel you could provide useful insight. Just to clarify, I am interested in hearing about career trajectories and plans, motivation for joining Cathay rather than an Australian airline, training requirements etc., not any personal stuff!
Thank you in anticipation.
Anyway, one of my characters is a male Australian airline pilot who, for most of his career at least, flies for Cathay Pacific. My character’s work life happens ‘off stage’ (this is a book geared towards the female market and although certainly not a conventional ‘romance’ is largely about relationships) but want to ensure that the story and dialogue sound reasonably authentic.
I have browsed the history of the Fragrant Harbour forum on PPRuNe and picked up a lots of information. I’ve also spoken to a Qantas captain who (under the assurance of anonymity) has been wonderfully helpful, but I’m still keen to chat to a Cathay pilot, particularly one who has joined as an Australian-based Direct Entry First Officer (DEFO) and has since transferred to Hong Kong.
I guess my first question is: do such individuals exist? From my reading I understand they could technically; that is, transfer from the freighter fleet to the HK-based passenger fleet after the requisite three years or so. However, has this happened in reality, or have Australian-based DEFOs tended to stay put in Oz? I read in one post that suggested that quite a few have elected to take freighter commands and remain at an Australian base. I also understand that Cathay started recruiting Australian-based DEFOs for their passenger fleet a few years ago, but my novel is set slightly in the past (1990s to 2006) and my character needs to have started at Cathay before then.
Even if you don’t strictly fit these criteria I would be interested in hearing from you if you feel you could provide useful insight. Just to clarify, I am interested in hearing about career trajectories and plans, motivation for joining Cathay rather than an Australian airline, training requirements etc., not any personal stuff!
Thank you in anticipation.