To All Prospective Malaysian FOs
This really isn't hard. You may either:
(1) Join CX Freighters (M) as a F/O on half or less pay. Fly freighters only, with their associated poor rostering and schedules. Have the "option" to go to pax fleet in three years taken away from you - after all, the ad only says you "may" be offered this choice, and why would CX allow you to massively upgrade your pay when they can keep you cheaply - you are obviously happy being paid the freighter salary after all? You'll not be on any seniority list, so command is probably also optional. You'll have no union representation and may incur the enmity of others who have now been fighting CX on fundamental contractual issues for many years. You'll be on your own.
OR
(2) Join CX as a S/O based in Hong Kong, paid about 50% more* than the Malaysian Freighter salary. Commute home to Malaysia, as your rostering will allow 5 days off between trips - roughly 15 days per month - much, much better than the freighter rostering which has no such provision (just one of the benefits of a stronger contract and union to enforce it). You'll be on a seniority list, so guaranteed to be upgraded to F/O with the associated pay. Fly with about 30 other nationalities and enjoy the protection of a union that currently represents more than 90% of the pilots in CX, as well as others in DragonAir and Air Hong Kong.
*Yes, SOs are paid more than FOs. FOs are paid more than Captains. CX must be the only airline in the world to do this! But if you join on the right contract, with enforceable provisions, you should have a prosperous career. (There are many problems with our conditions, rostering and remuneration, but with 90%+ of pilots pulling more or less in the same direction it will be resolved. The Malaysian FO contract is much worse).
We've been through this before, and said the same things to others. Sadly, many chose to join on a lower salary with reduced contractual protection, and after some years are now complaining about how low their pay is and how poor their rostering is.
Are you going to make the same mistake they did?
[This message has been edited by St_Paul_Island (edited 15 April 2001).]