Some related issues....
It's getting close - officially now. I need some input from those at CX that have "been there, done that", please. Some of the replies to other questions have been CLOSE to what I am after, so bear with me on these specific issues I am tackling right now.
First issue: I am about one year away from having the total "qualifying" time to make it in as a direct entry First Officer (see my qualifications at the start of this thread, but this means I would have 2,000 hours of "Airliner"-size jet time).
I qualify now for S/O...but (the big question) do I wait one year to join as F/O, or jump at the chance for S/O now?
Other issues to ponder: If I take S/O now, I can hop across to F/O Freighter (from what I understand). This places myself and wifey back at home after living the Expat life for a few years now, which would be a nice thing (keeping in mind a stint in HKG is required eventually, and isn't something we'd mind in the least doing sometime). BUT....and this is the big but....if I join as S/O and stay frozen on the freighter for 4 years, will that be a larger financial loss in the long run than waiting one more year to join in as an F/O on the PX fleet? And will that delay my upgrade to Captain? I don't have enough information to make a decision on this critical step of the hiring process.
More to add to the mess: I am a pretty good position at a somewhat stable company now, but if I stay longer, I could request the company bypass me for an upcoming fleet transfer while I bide my time where I am at now, waiting for the F/O position at CX. If I do the fleet-transfer thing, I will be bound to them for a three-year training bond.
If I took the S/O slot (if it was offered officially, that is) it would mean leaving where I am with no bond, and on very good terms (but back to my questions above on promotion and financial loss/gain!).
My preference is to retire with CX, and either way I do not want to miss the chance to join - the dilemma is WHEN to join. If CX says "No Thanks" to me after the interviews, I'd be disappointed, of course, but the company I am at (as a second choice to CX) would be a pretty good place to stay IF my luck with CX fell through. I am in a fortunate position, that way, but CX is where I want to end up.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated from TWApilot, Penske, or anyone else out there in CX-Land.
I am hard at work studying all the usual recommended material for the interviews, and look forward to joining the company I long have sought after. Feel free to take your best qualified thought on what road I should look at taking.
This may be long and drawn out, but this isn't just for myself to ponder on - my family will be along for whatever ride I choose to take us on...we ALL thank you for the input so-far.
R.D.