SO Upgrade

[airbusa330]

Dear all who are in the know,could you please elaborate,

One joins as an SO, what is the upgrade procedure to JFO?Do you serve a time period during which an openning happens and one has to bid or for it or are you automatically upgraded depending on the need for JFO's/ability etc?
Ie if you are and SO on B744, do you automatically become JFO on the B744?
Confusssssing, yea I know,
Cheers

[Harbour Dweller]

CX S/O's are upgraded to JFO on seniority providing they have been assessed as being suitable for upgrade by the company (another interview).

It is not an optional process. When your number's up you undertake the training process.

The current timeframe is 3.5 yrs.

B744 S/O's are not upgraded onto the B744. They mostly go onto the B777. Some have gone onto the A330 and in rare cases, the A340.

[Mach75]

If this is the case, how does one become an F/O on the 744 or A340? If a JFO wishes to fly the 744 or 340, for instance for the purpose of taking a non-HK basing, is it possible to change aircraft at some point?

[DDDOF]

One doesn't become a JFO on the 744. It's either the 777 or the 330. 6 to 8 months later you do a QL (Qualification) and go from JFO to FO. To go on the 744 you would have to bid onto it but that wouldn't be before your QL at the earliest. Also I imagine you wouldn't be CCQ'd on the 340 from the 330 until after your QL. By the way the 777 will eventually be the aircarft doing majority on N. America so we've been told so one assumes there will be basings availavle on it once that happens, but those are all based on senority.
So to answer your next question 3.5 years as an SO on the 744 upgrade to JFO on the 777 8 months to QL then wait to transfer to a base, take into account training courses etc. you'll be in HK a min of 5 to 6 years before getting a base and again that depends on which base you want and your senority. Or if after your first year's line check as an SO on the 744 you can apply to transfer to the freighter 744 as an FO on a base in N. America provided you meet the pre-hire direct entry freighter FO qualifications.
Hope that helps