China Southern or Hainan ??

[LimaVictor]

:hmm:
Hello people,
I'm on a dilemma and maybe you experienced pilots flying in China nowadays or maybe previously could help me out in making my decision.
i am ready to apply and go fly in China but I cannot decide which will be the better option for a B787 DEC job. China Southern or Hainan?
There is a little difference in the package from one side but the base availability sounds better from the other. :hmm::hmm:
All inputs are very much welcomed.
thank you and happy landings.

LV:ok:

[de facto]

China southern,had good returns on how the airline treats its expats.

[mach85]

Kind of depends what you are coming here for........

If its just for the money then consider Hainan as they pay considerably more especially for the 'live in China' contracts.

If you want to try and have a normal-ish life back home while working for a Chinese carrier then try CSA IF 1 of their 'out bases' are easily commutable for you to get home. 4K/month lower pay though at CSA compared to Hainan so as I mentioned before, kind of depends what you are looking for.

There is also the small issue of passing both selection processes first 😩😩
All the best with whatever you choose.

Cheers,

[The Dominican]

I'm on a dilemma.........! i am ready to apply and go fly in China but I cannot decide which will be the better option for a B787 DEC job. China Southern or Hainan?

Go through the application process first...., then if you get both job offers (and that is a big if, most people that apply get turned down) then you have a dilemma...., until then it is all academic.

[de facto]

Dominican,
As you may know,deciding to which airline to apply first is paramount as once you have been through the medical check and pass at this stage,the other airlines may not even look at you until the airline you initially screened for agrees for that "transfer".
Chinese airlines may not even screen you if they realise you are attempting to dual screening.

[Savage175]

China Southern has very recently taken steps to improve the 'liveability' of their RSP contracts. New bases have opened or are scheduled to open very soon in Europe and the USA. They will open a base with just two pilots (I presume the main requirement will be that the aircraft type servicing that base is likely to remain stable). Latest rosters have all but eliminated (where possible) multi sector trips. IE, if you live in Oz, you will fly to CAN and return only, so long as base numbers allow, resulting in 20+ nights at home base (a bit less in Dodge due to base numbers and flight frequency)!! Time will tell whether this continues, but the main reason is to boost recruiting.

[The Dominican]

What would be the type with the highest possibility of a JFK RSP?

[de facto]

Savage,
Do you work for China southern?
Just want to know so i dont have ask my friends working there if what you are saying is correct or not.

[LimaVictor]

Thank you very much for all the replies guys :ok:
I was at this info day organized in Dubai a couple days ago by a well known pilot broker, and from what I understood him saying is that once you go and do a medical check and written test for a company you are pretty much stuck to the one you've chosen first, so I don't think you can go and dance with both girls at the same time:*

Anyway, like one of you mentioned before, depends on what i'm coming to China for and I know well enough so far that I will for the money so the choice is clear "Hainan". Let's hope now I pass that screening process everybody talks about:uhoh:

Thank you and happy landings
:ok:

LV

[CEA330Driver]

@LimaVictor: I'm not so sure that's true. Times may have changed so I stand to be corrected, but I went for an assessment with Hainan in 2008 and completed the ATPL exam, Medical and English proficiency. My sim was cancelled and I was sent home for a month to wait. In the meantime, I asked my broker if I could do an assessment with Air China, and did so a week later. I got the job with CA.

[The Dominican]

@LimaVictor: I'm not so sure that's true. Times may have changed so I stand to be corrected, but I went for an assessment with Hainan in 2008 and completed the ATPL exam, Medical and English proficiency. My sim was cancelled and I was sent home for a month to wait. In the meantime, I asked my broker if I could do an assessment with Air China, and did so a week later. I got the job with CA.

I know of a few folks that have interviewed in two places as well and are now working in the company of choice...., hence my comment..!

I keep hearing the same comment from folks about the interview not being possible once you go to the process somewhere else...., I know that applies once you are employed and have a license issued...., But for the interview? How would they even know?

If the airline industry in China has such an efficient intelligence gathering system that all the airlines know everyone that puts in an application with another carrier..., they should use it to track their luggage...., LOL

[DesertHawk]

just curious what are these sims checks consisting of? I am currently involved in hiring at my airline and hear all sorts of stories about the carriers mentioned. curious to the actual facts of what they are doing... thanks in advance

[WYOMINGPILOT]

It is possible to interview at 2 places but can pose problems. What happens is the first airline who decides they want to hire you must submit to the CAAC to do a license background check. The first one who submits this to the CAAC ties up this license and passport and for the time being essentially owns you. If the second company decides they want you then there has to be a negotiation for your license ie a few red envelopes are passed to move you. Switching from one airline to another is also possible but you must be released by the owning airline. It is easier to do this at the end of a 3 year contract than trying it while you are still under contract. In China anything is possible if the gaining airline wants it bad enough but the best thing to do is try and choose an airline where you might want to remain for awhile ie do your homework. China is notorious for hiring you as a Captain on these widebody contracts and then only using you as essentially a Cruise Captain. The CS non type rated contracts are really bad for this on the Boeing fleet. The airbus is a little better but you will NOT fly as the PIC you will be a glorified IRO paid as a Captain but never signing for the airplane or being able to make a landing without the true PIC in the other seat.

[The Dominican]

He's back......! And he's off the meds!

Wait...., let me get some popcorn.

[de facto]

The Dominican,

Have you or are you working for a chinese airline?
Yes or no will suffice.

Deserthawk,

Multiple failures,raw data and loads of touch and go max cross in gusty conditions.
They just want to make sure you dont chase that speed like a junior and would make their pax puke out their noodles or rice..

[torallin]

If you choose CS, be prepared to sit as a cruise capt. for years to come. Especially if you choose the B787. The Chinese capt. will not share the rest equally, your every move will be scrutinized and you will have no professional satisfaction at all. Come only for the money and chance for commute. Bases open and close about every 6 months as the winter and summer programs often change fleet on different destinations. For bases, or RSP they are called, do not expect fly back and forth as the other guy say, as EVERY time you have a medical, recurrent, safety etc etc they will use it as an excuse to screw with your roster (with two pilots this could literally be 6-8 months of the year). Resulting in KK (Positioning) back and forth, often in economy class.

My advice is to ONLY come if you really want the money, it turns out to be the only motivation we have in the end.

[peffi]

Why would anyone like to work in China? I'd rather work for Dunkin Donuts. Zippyshare.com - Flying Upside Down.pdf (http://www92.zippyshare.com/v/rRE4ARC2/file.html)

[HandoverRichard]

Torallin, when you say "only come here for the money" - do you mean CS, or Chinese carriers in general?