info on joining CX

[Ks7474ever]

hey, i am new at this forum and have many questions and need advise on pushing my career in the right direction. i have total of 250tt/130me. i am currently working on my CFI-A, CFII and going to school to finish my B.A. in Psychology. my dream is to work for a major airline and fly my favorite airplane the 747. i hear all sorts of things about Cx good and the bad. i am really interested in joining the company. Since i am fairly new pilot and probably nowhere near the minimum requirements for the DEFO. i would like to know if there is another way to join the team. If one gets hired do you have to be based outside of USA whether it would be PAX or CARGO fleet. Is there a signing contract for amount of years one have to stay. What are the passing rates if one joins the cadet program. if anyone has any idea or advice on pursuing the job it will be well appreciated. thanks in advance.

[Kane Toed]

At the moment you cannot join the CX Cadet programme unless you are a Hong Kong resident (ie have a Hong Kong ID card). I’m assuming that you don't have that option, as you didn’t mention it.

The next option for you would be to join as a Second Officer. Details can be found on the CX web site here:

Cathay Pacific - Careers : Careers Home (http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/careers/flying/so)

don’t believe the 1,000 hours though. I’m not sure if the company has ever employed such a low hours applicant. Actually current SOs come from pretty diverse backgrounds, but many of them have > 5,000 hrs and it is not unusual to find ex wide body captains or military pilots entering as Second Officers.

You mentioned that you were interested in DEFO, and I’m assuming that is because you want to remain in the States. The requirements for FO can also be found on the CX site, but you’ll certainly need command time for this option, either Jet or a big turboprop is my guess. By the time you meet the hours requirements I would imagine that CX will be offering US domiciled DEFO on all the freight and passenger bases.

Good luck anyway, and I do encourage you to send an application in to recruiting as soon as you meet the minimum requirements. It would appear that regular updating of your application is a positive thing in the recruitment process. Keep getting those hours, and a bit of regional flying would be a good way to go. Or join the military...

KT

[Kane Toed]

oh, one other thing...
... the Airbus is much better!;)

[Ks7474ever]

Thank you very much for your insight. You are right i will just keep totaling my hours as much as i can. my plan for now is to instruct when i get my CFI and gain experience that way because joining an airline/regional does not look too good as far as in the states.