CX SO quest.

[B767PL]

Hey guys.

Read a bunch of things on Cathay here, seems from the posts anyways that lots are unhappy, even as PIC or FOs.. so this might be a dumb question.

Currently a regional pilot in the U.S (so I don't think it can get any worse for me).

Saw an adv. for Cathay SO today.

Was wondering the pay, and time to upgrade to FO from SO... if that is even an option. Just an option out there. Understand for some guys with good experience it might be a **** one, but in my position maybe not... well either way. Whats the deal? Mainly, could you even survive on SO pay out there? Just lookin for general info.. not desperate.

[SloppyJoe]

Maybe look at the fragrant harbour wannabes forum as all has been covered many times. Its the thread about cadets as that is the only way you will get in here from a regional at the moment.

[betpump5]

Salary starts at about $33,000 HKD a month, and goes up about $4K a month until F/O.

Are you just pulling figures out of a place where the sun don't shine?

B767PL. I'll PM you with some details

[betpump5]

First of all, the starting salary isn't 33'000. It is 35'170 rising to 45'170 25 April.

And I'm not mathematician but going up 4K per month until FO means by the time you reach FO in 3 years min, your salary will be $177K per month!

[cxorcist]

betpump5 is a low level CX manager and not to be trusted. Do your own homework!!! The CX cadet SO scheme is a bad deal for anyone with real flying experience. You will live a borderline poverty existence in HKG for at least 4 years before you get any meaningful experience on a widebody.

My advice - wait until the US majors start retiring all the baby boomers. You'll get in somewhere once this cycle really gets moving. It would be happening already if not for retirement age 65. Be patient. Don't jump at this bad deal unless you really like Hong Kong, bad air, and crappy little apartments. There is a good chance you'll regret it...

PS - Hi Ian;)

[Captain Dart]

The very fact that the corporation is having to advertise for flight crew should set off alarm bells to those considering joining. For decades it was a 'given' that any pilot with some experience looking for a relatively quick command and generous salary and conditions, who was prepared to leave their home country would send a CV off to Cathay Pacific.

For years it was: 'We've got pilots falling out of the trees', '...swamped by applications', 'lots of hungry pilots out there' etc etc.

So why the glossy advertisements? :cool:

[Forward CofG]

Betpump5,

I must have missed the announcement of S/O's getting a 28.4% payrise as of 25 April.

Would this extra $10,000 not be the housing assistance (horribly low amount), which has been added to try and get some guys to say yes to job offers?

The salary for an S/O year 1 is still $35,170/pm, as per the COS.

[you.wish]

A couple of questions relating to life as a SO in HK. What is a typical roster like for second officers on the different types CX? Is it possible to commute from Europe? Does any SO's commute?

Please feel free to PM me as I would like to get to know some SO's flying for CX.

Best regards

[404 Titan]

betpump5
And I'm not mathematician but going up 4K per month until FO means by the time you reach FO in 3 years min, your salary will be $177K per month!
Do you want to substantiate that claim before I do a forensic accounting analysis of it? You really do come out with some beauties betpump but this one really takes the cake for bold face porky pie lies and confirms beyond a reasonable doubt you are a CX manager.

[boxjockey]

404,

I think his mathematics were based on another poster stating that SOs received a 4K per MONTH raise, instead of ANNUAL raise. At 177K per month, I would have stayed SO forever!!

box

PS - Don't join on these conditions, you will regret it.

[G_Orwell]

... you wish!! April Fool's day!!!??

Someone in previous pages said there are some SO that commute from Taipei, but then again I believe half of what I read here!

[betpump5]

thank you box jockey - by the way Datsun was the one that wrote the original reply and hence I was responding to his absurd claims. He has since removed that reply.

[B767PL]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

So upgrade from SO to FO is about 4 years?

When you guys say SO cadet scheme, what exactly is that, I am quite confused.

The way I saw and understood the advertisement is this : They are looking for SOs. They hire an SO. TR them, probably with a bond? Then the T&Cs come into play. But when I hear the word SO cadet scheme, I wonder what that entails...

Thanks guys, just looking at all options out there and this one got my attention, traditionally CX has had a good rep, seems to be somewhat on the decline now for some time, though.

[captain.weird]

There are no Ready Entry SO's anymore (DESO). Just a few DEFO's for now (I think) and in the very very very near future no more DEFO's anymore! The huge amount of SO's (yes, very much SO's because they will train a lot of cadets!! why? because it is gonna be cheap for them) will replace the FO's which are gonna fly for another airline or gonna be a captain @ CX.
In the past, just a few years ago, Cathay Pacific took DESO's, which had already 2-3k TT. They get a very good contract, if you compare it with the salary of the iCadet (Cadet Scheme).
The CX cadet scheme is for people who want to fly for Cathay Pacific, for less salary then the DESO's.

You will be smacked down everywhere:).

[buggaluggs]

B767

" traditionally CX has had a good rep, seems to be somewhat on the decline now for some time, though. " The prospective employee hit the nail on the head! I hope CX management are listening!!! :ugh:


Captain weird

"They get a very good contract, if you compare it with the salary of the iCadet (Cadet Scheme).
The CX cadet scheme is for people who want to fly for Cathay Pacific, for less salary then the DESO's."

You're looking at that the wrong way around, the DESO's had an acceptable deal, the iCadets ( where did that name come from? ) are getting a ****e deal!

[captain.weird]

You're looking at that the wrong way around, the DESO's had an acceptable deal, the iCadets ( where did that name come from? ) are getting a ****e deal!

I said the same.