Raven
"Cathay's training system is not perfect...and we have room to improve.....but it is world class, it has to be for us to survive, and the IOSA audits say so."
A bold statement!
Without geting into a discussion on the state of Cathay's training system I think that you might first want to look at the list of IATA registered airlines, i.e. those that have successfully completed an IOSA audit.
There are some on the list that I would definitely avoid.
Bear in mind that an audit is a sampling exercise and does not purport to be a total systems review. Additionally airlines receive a lot of prior notice about when an audit will take place and have some time to get their house in order.
"Forewarned is forearmed", I believe is the saying.
I have carried out around one hundred audits, non IOSA but I have completed an IOSA auditor's course. What I have found, around the world, is that if the Regulator is doing its job and the Operator has a sound Quality Management department, half the batle is won.
I will let you decide where HKCAD and CX stand on that point.
P.S. I survived 20 years (as a victim) of Cathay's training system - it worked alright for me!