It has been a week since the latest basing bids have been out and there were some low level meeting taking place.
So far we have noticed just over 20 base candidates for over 100 slots for First Officer positions. If these numbers do not increase we will have to release these to DEFO positions in the New Year. At that time we will have implemented a new DEFO pax/Freighter F/O scale. All new joiners will not have a choice of which aircraft type they choose. It will be 777 F/O out of JFK or Freighter F/O out of LAX, SFO, ORD or JFK. It will have the same pay and we will have a new COS with their new conditions.
We are getting many 2nd tier applicants who are only too happy to fly for The Cathay Pacific Group. These are all ex commuter airline types and The Cathay Pacific Group offers better conditions than they currently enjoy.
On the European side it will be DEFO onto the 744. It will be a mixture of interesting flying between the passenger and freighter, actually that will include all Captains and First Officers on the 744. Those Freighter Captains not yet able to hold a pax command will remain solely to fly freight until they are senior.
We are in the process of freezing all jokers in 2008, unnecessary training. We will award the bases to the applicant but we will not train them on type until 2009. This may upset some pilots but we have allocated next year jokers (7 in all) and those pilots have been notified of next year’s allotment. Please read clause 9.2 of the Permanent Basing agreement, we can and will use the following year’s allotment.
For those that are senior enough to hold bases, you will be awarded that base but you will not be trained until 2009. The reason is we are somewhat short on our freighter aircraft and we need those pilots to remain on the freighter for the time being.
We are busy training with the 777 fleet so all unnecessary training will cease.
Unfortunately we will not be able to pay passenger pay to those individuals until the time that pilot takes up training for the base.
All that unnecessary training will only increase my bonus. Yes we plan for our bonus in advance. It will be a good couple of years.
The KA pilots will only receive the CX pay when and only when they fly CX aircraft. When you sign over, you will be giving up certain benefits that KA pilots enjoy that new joiners at The Cathay Pacific Group don’t. Ask around you will eventually know what I mean; it ranges from travel to medical. You will find out in due course.
Enjoy your weekend and here to my bonus.
The Management