Duration As SO.

[RedLiner]

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the duration one is expected to be an SO at Cathay on the 744. I believe, in the past, it's ranged from 18-24 months and was curious to know if that has changed recently.

Also, are they having a hard time keeping classes filled. I know 2 guys that turned down the SO position claiming personal reasons. Heard of 2 other guys that went back stateside to join UPS.

These seem to be interesting times.

RL.

[Michael Hunt]

Closer to Three years I would have thought at the moment.

[AAIGUY]

Your asking the wrong question.

It should be "how long can I stay an SO"

[RedLiner]

AAIGUY you hit it right on the head.

I would have thought that given the rate of attrition and numerous opportunities currently available, being an SO would be rather unappealing to the masses, thereby lowering the duration. I guess I was wrong. Personally it would drive me crazy to be in that position for such a long duration. To each his own I suppose.

So has it stayed constant at the 3 year mark for a while?


RL.

[Michael Hunt]

It's actually been more than 3 years for the last 5 years or so. It's only now that is coming back towards 3 years.
It all depends how you do your time as an SO. You can fight it all the way or you can go with the flow. You can sit around and bitch to your mates about how you are under appreciated and how a nasty long sleeve wearing captain didn't quite appreciate your suggestion with regards to the final fuel decision or you can sit back relax and enjoy the break from flying, Have e few beers down route and enjoy the ridiculously easy SO roster!

[missingblade]

SO is now just under three years. Ie you will start your FO training about 2 and half years after joining. This takes several months since Cx flogs it to death before they sign you out.

However the time may very well soon go up to 3-4 years again. Reasons are several:1. DEFO. 2. Retirement age to 65 soon. 3. Planning three man crew on many long hauls soon.
All of these will slow upgrade time. The company is planning for this and pretty much admitted it when they offered a new pay deal with no bypass pay for SO's that were held back by above mentioned for up to something like 40 months. ( Bypass means you get an FO salary while still SO due to being held back from upgrade 'unfairly' )

As mentioned above you can sit and enjoy it... however the problem many SO's have is that they come here with several thousands of hours ( many with good jet time too ) and are not necessarily 25 any more so the clock is ticking. If you are young and on a turbine somewhere CX is a great break. If you are older the low salary and long time wasted as SO becomes more of an issue.

[Kane Toed]

I seem to remember that the suggested COS08 went something like this:

"In any case of recruitment of First Officers by Direct Entry, the next most senior Second Officer who, as of the date of joining of such First Officer, has completed 42 months of service...will receive First Officer Bypass Pay"

Might be an indication of things to come?

[RedLiner]

Thanks for the information. All this about bypass pay and Direct Entry begs the question of how seniority is integrated and regarded at CX.

Would an FO that just upgraded from being an SO have any sort of senioirty over a brand new DEFO? How about when it came to upgrade to captain? Would the added years an SO contributed help in anyway?

-RL.

[Aussie]

As far i know mate, it works this way...

When you join, you get a seniority number, and if a DEFO joins after you, then his number will be after yours, hence you should make captain before him...

No doubt ill be corrected if im wrong!

Aussie

[missingblade]

Well that's the principle - ie seniority means very little at the bottom but you should be offered a command in line with your number as mentioned above. That's if you are deemed suitable.
DEFO creates a problem cause you now have a guy with lets say 7000 hours that are junior to a SO with 500. Mmmmmm. Wonder who will be suitable first.

[sunny_liverpool]

they fire pilots without any reasons....

they have a checking system, which highly supervise you rather than training you...

think twice before you apply

dragonair is a lot better