Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme
A quick search on my username will tell you I have been trying to get into CX for a couple of years now. Finally got to flight grading only to be told that I'm now on hold for at least 12 months.
Fast forward 5 months and I find out on Monday if I have landed a freight job in SE Asia. 6 weeks on 2 weeks off. Starting pay is a bit lower than CX but my accommodation is paid for by the company during the 6 weeks on.
I'm not a 250 hour fresh CPL but I certainly didn't meet the mins they advertise when looking for FO's. If you have less than 1000 hours I wouldn't advise doing what I did which was taking a short holiday/job search in the Orient and knocking on doors.
Even if this job doesn't work out there are still a couple of other places that showed an interest in me.
Sounds easy but I still think I had some lucky breaks as key people happened to be around when I showed up and I could see them straight away. It might not have been so fruitful if I arrived a day earlier or later.
So to all the usual players on this thread (I know China Beached will agree), there are other options to Cathay you just have to go out and find them.
Fast forward 5 months and I find out on Monday if I have landed a freight job in SE Asia. 6 weeks on 2 weeks off. Starting pay is a bit lower than CX but my accommodation is paid for by the company during the 6 weeks on.
I'm not a 250 hour fresh CPL but I certainly didn't meet the mins they advertise when looking for FO's. If you have less than 1000 hours I wouldn't advise doing what I did which was taking a short holiday/job search in the Orient and knocking on doors.
Even if this job doesn't work out there are still a couple of other places that showed an interest in me.
Sounds easy but I still think I had some lucky breaks as key people happened to be around when I showed up and I could see them straight away. It might not have been so fruitful if I arrived a day earlier or later.
So to all the usual players on this thread (I know China Beached will agree), there are other options to Cathay you just have to go out and find them.
Last edited by pilotchute; 10th Apr 2013 at 09:15. Reason: grammer
I'm sure many people would like to know the name of companies I spoke to and where I went but at this point in time I don't have anything concrete so I really don't want to say. I know people that have been free with that sort of information and then found themselves in the bad books because the company in questions was flooded with phone calls and emails from fresh CPL wannabees.
I did it and so can you.
I only put this up here to get people to understand that Cathay isn't the only option out there.
I did it and so can you.
I only put this up here to get people to understand that Cathay isn't the only option out there.
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Congrats pilotchute - well done. As I and many others have said it takes real commitment to get out there & MAKE it happen instead of moaning on a rumour forum about a salary at McDonalds vs CX iCadet job, etc.
The harder you worked the "luckier" you got it seemed!
So, a lower salary than a CX slaved/bonded iCadet (or as a present C-Scale SO jetpilot123 quoted: "iron handcuffs") but with accommodation paid for. The net difference is the main point, including tax & cost of living. It's not what you make it's what you can save. (Most contract gigs are tax free).
And even if the money is slightly less after all things considered, pilotchute is earning REAL LOGGABLE HOURS in a control seat that are recognised by more than his own airline. Watch your aviation skills, knowledge, networking connections & salary begin a steady climb. With experience comes the opportunities. Within 2 years pilotchute will be more employable & with far, FAR greater career opportunities & options than the same guy "iron handcuffed" to the observer's seat not permitted by virtue of license & credentials to touch the controls on an ever depreciating salary basis. Ooohhh! But the aircraft the CX iCadet SO's not licensed to manipulate the controls of has more than 1 engine! That's worth a shirtless game of beach volleyball & reverse high 5.
As crwkuntroll eloquently put it when replying to a post from someone moaning about how to get experience or job & thus defending P2F guys:
So again, well done pilotchute.
The harder you worked the "luckier" you got it seemed!
So, a lower salary than a CX slaved/bonded iCadet (or as a present C-Scale SO jetpilot123 quoted: "iron handcuffs") but with accommodation paid for. The net difference is the main point, including tax & cost of living. It's not what you make it's what you can save. (Most contract gigs are tax free).
And even if the money is slightly less after all things considered, pilotchute is earning REAL LOGGABLE HOURS in a control seat that are recognised by more than his own airline. Watch your aviation skills, knowledge, networking connections & salary begin a steady climb. With experience comes the opportunities. Within 2 years pilotchute will be more employable & with far, FAR greater career opportunities & options than the same guy "iron handcuffed" to the observer's seat not permitted by virtue of license & credentials to touch the controls on an ever depreciating salary basis. Ooohhh! But the aircraft the CX iCadet SO's not licensed to manipulate the controls of has more than 1 engine! That's worth a shirtless game of beach volleyball & reverse high 5.
As crwkuntroll eloquently put it when replying to a post from someone moaning about how to get experience or job & thus defending P2F guys:
The same way we all did when jobs were "hard" to find, get off your arse, your computer, and go and find one!
Last edited by ChinaBeached; 10th Apr 2013 at 06:28.
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Pilotchute, I won't ask for which company you are flying now for.. but what kind of an aircraft will it be? Will the typerating being paid by the company?
Wish you a lot of luck mate! Well done!
Wish you a lot of luck mate! Well done!
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I'm still asked this: I'm asked most often & which always annoys me is whether I think I've got "the right stuff". All I know is I worked my tail off to learn to fly, & worked hard at it all the way. And in the end, the one big reason why I was better than average as a pilot was because I flew more than anybody else. If there is such a thing as "the right stuff" in piloting then it is experience.
Brigadier General Chuck Yeager
Bold font by me.
Brigadier General Chuck Yeager
Bold font by me.
Last edited by ChinaBeached; 17th Apr 2013 at 16:18.
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JKI Booklet
Hi mate,
I am the one in the waiting game as well.
Would someone please kindly send the JKI booklet to [email protected] so I can prepare more before attending the interview.
I have searched the thread, and sent email to the user who willing to share the JKI booklet to wannabes. However, that post was three years ago.
Best wishes to all want to engage in CX.
Thanks a lot
I am the one in the waiting game as well.
Would someone please kindly send the JKI booklet to [email protected] so I can prepare more before attending the interview.
I have searched the thread, and sent email to the user who willing to share the JKI booklet to wannabes. However, that post was three years ago.
Best wishes to all want to engage in CX.
Thanks a lot
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Does anyone know if Stage 1b consists of technical questions? I've heard that the interview only covers HR questions and that Stage 2 would consist of both HR and Tech.
Join Date: May 2008
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Guys, any questions, technical or not, is fair game in an interview. Like any airline interview, prepare yourself well and be yourself. You don't want to be caught in the situation where they end up hiring you based on something that you're not and having to live up to that illusion for the rest of your time here.
Stop trying to be spoon fed by us and rummage through the ridiculous amount of posts in this thread, before one of the old salts here blast you with the flamethrower of hate for being an iCadet.
Cheers.
J
Stop trying to be spoon fed by us and rummage through the ridiculous amount of posts in this thread, before one of the old salts here blast you with the flamethrower of hate for being an iCadet.
Cheers.
J
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Hi everyone
Hey Guys, I have been invited for the initial stage interview on 5th June.
I would like to know if anyone else here has been invited on that day.
Also, in case you haven't heard from the recruiters. My advise is you call this number for enquiries +852 2747 8247 or email [email protected] or
I wasn't informed I had been shortlisted for the interview until I rang the recruitment crew.
Hope this helps.
I would like to know if anyone else here has been invited on that day.
Also, in case you haven't heard from the recruiters. My advise is you call this number for enquiries +852 2747 8247 or email [email protected] or
I wasn't informed I had been shortlisted for the interview until I rang the recruitment crew.
Hope this helps.
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Final Interview 29/5
Hi,
Im invited to attend group exercise, flight planning exercise, personality test and panel interview on 29/5. If you are having them on the same day, kindly drop me a PM. Thanks and good luck!
Cheers!
Im invited to attend group exercise, flight planning exercise, personality test and panel interview on 29/5. If you are having them on the same day, kindly drop me a PM. Thanks and good luck!
Cheers!