DESO, Cadat or quit? Need Advice
After conducting extensive research on the forum, including reading over 400 pages of the Cadat Programme thread, I still have some uncertainties and hope to seek advice from current captains, first officers at Cathay Pacific, as well as other airline pilots.
Here's a brief overview of my personal situation:
I am a Chinese citizen, not particularly welcomed by many on these forums. Currently, I work in the financial sector in Hong Kong with a monthly salary ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 HKD. However, I've always yearned for the days of flying and aspire to become a professional pilot. I have approximately 800 flight hours, including over 60 hours of jet SIC experience, holding FAA commercial pilot license with instrument rating, CFI, CFII licenses, and a type rating for Bombardier Challenger 300. Due to well-known reasons, obtaining a work visa in the United States is now challenging.
Here are some significant issues I've encountered, and I sincerely hope to receive advice from everyone.
(1) If I participate in the DESO program, I need go to US and take ATP-CTP and ATPL knowlage exam. My last flight was in 2015, and I have some knowledge gaps in aviation which can be quickly refreshed. The main challenge lies in the requirement stated on the official website, which demands ATPL exam scores. After 2015, FAA requires ATP-CTP training before taking the ATPL exam, costing about $7,000 and lasting for a week. Additionally, to vaild my commercial pilot license and instrument rating, I need to undergo a flight review, which will take approximately two weeks in total. However, it's challenging for me to take that much time off work, possibly requiring me to take leave or resign.
(2) If I participate in the Cadat Programme, would I need to start from scratch, going from solo to PPL, CPL, which takes 15 months to accumulate 250 hours? However, for me, this would be meaningless training. Is there a possibility of exempting some of the training?
(3) For DESO, would it be possible to directly join the simulator training as an SO? Can I obtain a type rating (if I apply to HK EXPRESS), or would DESO still require additional training in Adelaide or Arizona?
(4) Does DESO offer pilot allowances starting from the Day 1? And do I need to commit to a service period with Cathay?I earnestly hope to receive advice from experienced pilots. I yearn to return to flying; the sensation of being in the sky feels like coming home to me.
For me, the working environment in Chian mainland airlines is compete toxic, but it may not be feasible for me to go to North America. Cathay might be my best option.