qx747pilot,
Reading the posts here at pprune you would think that every C+T trip is a nightmare. Well, I have been nervous and anxious(self induced) before every check but the majority have been stress free. I have to say that almost 95-99% of any negative feedback has been justified.
Most of my checks for the last few years have been done by guys that were in C+T when I was an FO! So it makes me wonder what has changed. Has there been some corporate philosphy change? Or have the C+T'ers suddenly got angry or unforgiving? I feel that the checks have been consistent over the last decade on both sides of my command.
I dont know why there have been so many problems over the last few years. I think it is a complicated issue...for example, CX used to be a 'check' airline as it had mostly very experienced people joining. Now it is becoming a 'training' airline but it takes time for the corporate culture to change.
I can say this with absolute certainty...the absolute vast majority that think it is ok here and just get on with it, whilst being aware of CX's shortfalls, have very little problem with the upgrades. Those that notice each and every imperfection seem to continuously have problems. I am not trying to infer that being the 'squeaky wheel' will delay upgrades. I am trying to suggest that having a positive attitude is highly correlated to success within CX. Not a 'kiss-ass' attitude...more of the 'take responsibility for one's own f*#$ups attitude'. Yes there is inconsistency between trainers...one tells you to taxi on the centre line and accept the bumps, the next tells you to taxi off centreline to avoid bumps. The checker will invariably prefer the opposite to what you do. So what? Grow up! Wow, the world isn't always fair. The guys that whinge the most should go to some job that has absolute certainty of right and wrong with no variation...the "Stop/Go" sign holder on road works maybe!!!!
You dont have to read "The power of positive thinking" every day to get by here. Just get on with life...accept that sometimes, hopefully rarely, you will be hard done by(I have). If you decide before you come here that C+T at CX will be a problem, I guarantee you it will be a problem.
No one has ever accused me of being chuck yeager and yet I have got through mostly unscathed by the same C+T guys that others complain about. Unlike some posters here I have been subjected to these guys on multiple occasions.
So mr anti-rupert murdoch, it is difficult to answer your question. I haven't seen any trend in my past or to the gripes I hear about from FOs. Maybe it is a case of just being uncomfortable with any C+T being a different nationality from our own?