Cathay Questions
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Cathay Questions
Hey all,
Just got the email for a Sept 20th DEFO interview in NYC! I have a few questions that I can't find here.....
1.) How likely is it that could get JFK if successful?
2.) Is the gouge from jetthrust.com enough to study from or do I also need HTBJ by Davies and the technical book by bristow?
3.) If I am successful(knock wood, fingers crossed), what is the training like? ie...timeline...locations, etc.
4.) What is the truth about flying at Cathay......under a microscope all the time, etc?
5.) Would you leave a growing US regional as a CAP for Cathay?
6.) A straight answer on pay.
7.) What is a typical line like on the 744 out of JFK??
THANKS! I appreciate all of the reponses.
Just got the email for a Sept 20th DEFO interview in NYC! I have a few questions that I can't find here.....
1.) How likely is it that could get JFK if successful?
2.) Is the gouge from jetthrust.com enough to study from or do I also need HTBJ by Davies and the technical book by bristow?
3.) If I am successful(knock wood, fingers crossed), what is the training like? ie...timeline...locations, etc.
4.) What is the truth about flying at Cathay......under a microscope all the time, etc?
5.) Would you leave a growing US regional as a CAP for Cathay?
6.) A straight answer on pay.
7.) What is a typical line like on the 744 out of JFK??
THANKS! I appreciate all of the reponses.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Batman. Firstly congratulations on making the screening selection.
It's back to the bat cave and study study mate.
I'd seriously just focus on "Ace the Pilot Technical interview" cause you just may have too little time to digest Handling the Big Jets. I'm not trying to say you're not capable of accomplishing this task but your question seems to be indicating that you're short for time on your prep work. HTBJ has very good information but is a rather dry read. "Ace the Pilot Technical interview" has just a few errors in the answers but most of it is spot on and easy to find index on topics.
Please take my advice and have a friend ask you HR type questions. You must put strong emphasis on this. Reasons? You could be asked anything on the technicals. There really isn't anyway to guess what you could be asked but you can be sure that HR will ask you: Why Cathay? Tell us about yourself? If you're married then "How does your wife feel about moving to HK? What was our profit for the first part of this year? How many aircraft on order? Who is the Chairman? Chief Executive? If you can't convince them that you truly want to work for Cathay or be ready to move to HK then you'd better do well on your technicals. HR is more willing to give you a shot at the second interview if you show that you've prepared for the interview. If you're struggling to explain the most basic question of why you want to work for Cathay then you're treading water.
Please ask yourself the question "should I leave a growing regional airline as CAP for CX?". Nobody can or should try to answer this one for you. What do you want? Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?
CX is a WORLD CLASS INTERNATIONAL Airline. That's it. Cargo or Passenger makes no difference. You can and will be expected to fly internationally on heavy complex aircraft. Maybe gone from 2-8days on the cargo or bid domestic flights if based in HK where you can come home everyday.
Here's freighter pay and benefits info:
No annual completion bonus.
USA payrates: Captain 123,996 FO 63,504
Freighter First Officers receive up to 10 annual increments in rank, the first being awarded on completion of twelve months service from DOJ.
LEAVE
First Officers are entitled to 42 days annual leave. Sick leave, maternity leave and compassionate leave are also available.
BENEFITS
PROVIDENT FUND
Officers will receive a Provident Fund Scheme contribution of 15.5% of salary (less any mandatory payments paid by the Company in respect of that Officer) paid with salary or by such other arrangements as the Officer may request, subject to mutual agreement.
Loss of Licence Insurance
The Company will insure the Officer’s flying licence to a maximum of twenty four (24) months’ salary except that, from the Officer’s fifty third (53rd) birthday, any benefit payable for loss of licence under such insurance will decrease by one month’s salary per month so that the benefit payable thereunder will be reduced to nil at age fifty five (55).
Concessional Travel
After the applicable qualifying period, concessional travel on Cathay Pacific and most other major airlines is available to crew, their spouse and eligible dependant children. Single employees may nominate a sibling or a friend to enjoy travel benefits. Parents will also be eligible for concessional travel on Cathay Pacific flights. In addition, employees are entitled to a bookable free of charge (FOC) return ticket on a Cathay Pacific flight each year.
Life Insurance
The Company provides life insurance to the value of 60 months’ salary.
Medical cover
The Company provides medical insurance cover to the employee, their spouse and eligible children in accordance with company policy.
That is the info I hope will help you on your way.
BarBQ.
It's back to the bat cave and study study mate.
I'd seriously just focus on "Ace the Pilot Technical interview" cause you just may have too little time to digest Handling the Big Jets. I'm not trying to say you're not capable of accomplishing this task but your question seems to be indicating that you're short for time on your prep work. HTBJ has very good information but is a rather dry read. "Ace the Pilot Technical interview" has just a few errors in the answers but most of it is spot on and easy to find index on topics.
Please take my advice and have a friend ask you HR type questions. You must put strong emphasis on this. Reasons? You could be asked anything on the technicals. There really isn't anyway to guess what you could be asked but you can be sure that HR will ask you: Why Cathay? Tell us about yourself? If you're married then "How does your wife feel about moving to HK? What was our profit for the first part of this year? How many aircraft on order? Who is the Chairman? Chief Executive? If you can't convince them that you truly want to work for Cathay or be ready to move to HK then you'd better do well on your technicals. HR is more willing to give you a shot at the second interview if you show that you've prepared for the interview. If you're struggling to explain the most basic question of why you want to work for Cathay then you're treading water.
Please ask yourself the question "should I leave a growing regional airline as CAP for CX?". Nobody can or should try to answer this one for you. What do you want? Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?
CX is a WORLD CLASS INTERNATIONAL Airline. That's it. Cargo or Passenger makes no difference. You can and will be expected to fly internationally on heavy complex aircraft. Maybe gone from 2-8days on the cargo or bid domestic flights if based in HK where you can come home everyday.
Here's freighter pay and benefits info:
No annual completion bonus.
USA payrates: Captain 123,996 FO 63,504
Freighter First Officers receive up to 10 annual increments in rank, the first being awarded on completion of twelve months service from DOJ.
LEAVE
First Officers are entitled to 42 days annual leave. Sick leave, maternity leave and compassionate leave are also available.
BENEFITS
PROVIDENT FUND
Officers will receive a Provident Fund Scheme contribution of 15.5% of salary (less any mandatory payments paid by the Company in respect of that Officer) paid with salary or by such other arrangements as the Officer may request, subject to mutual agreement.
Loss of Licence Insurance
The Company will insure the Officer’s flying licence to a maximum of twenty four (24) months’ salary except that, from the Officer’s fifty third (53rd) birthday, any benefit payable for loss of licence under such insurance will decrease by one month’s salary per month so that the benefit payable thereunder will be reduced to nil at age fifty five (55).
Concessional Travel
After the applicable qualifying period, concessional travel on Cathay Pacific and most other major airlines is available to crew, their spouse and eligible dependant children. Single employees may nominate a sibling or a friend to enjoy travel benefits. Parents will also be eligible for concessional travel on Cathay Pacific flights. In addition, employees are entitled to a bookable free of charge (FOC) return ticket on a Cathay Pacific flight each year.
Life Insurance
The Company provides life insurance to the value of 60 months’ salary.
Medical cover
The Company provides medical insurance cover to the employee, their spouse and eligible children in accordance with company policy.
That is the info I hope will help you on your way.
BarBQ.
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Id recommend finding an interview coach. Its great experience to practice, listen to the tape and rehearse. And as pilots we really answer some of the questions so wrong!!!
HR can make or break you i think now.
You will have the tech under control after a month or 2 study and the sim is worth practicing somewhere first too.
Know yourre current type pretty well too!!
HR can make or break you i think now.
You will have the tech under control after a month or 2 study and the sim is worth practicing somewhere first too.
Know yourre current type pretty well too!!
If you'd like to coach yourself, two GREAT books I can recommend are:
Airline Pilot Interviews: How You Can Succeed in Getting Hired
by Irv Jasinski
Worked for me
It explains everything going on behind the interview!! Another great book is:
Great Answers To Tough Interview Questions, Fifth Edition
by Martin John Yate
So when they ask you a tough question, what are they really looking for? A bit of effort here can work wonders!! Some great examples given.
Before I read these books, I would have hung myself with all the rope they gave me!! It's all about knowing how the game works. Turning everything into a positive.
So many people focus too much on the Tech, but prepping your HR answers is just as important.
Good luck!
Airline Pilot Interviews: How You Can Succeed in Getting Hired
by Irv Jasinski
Worked for me
It explains everything going on behind the interview!! Another great book is:
Great Answers To Tough Interview Questions, Fifth Edition
by Martin John Yate
So when they ask you a tough question, what are they really looking for? A bit of effort here can work wonders!! Some great examples given.
Before I read these books, I would have hung myself with all the rope they gave me!! It's all about knowing how the game works. Turning everything into a positive.
So many people focus too much on the Tech, but prepping your HR answers is just as important.
Good luck!
Forget the technical book by Bristow. A lemon that is full of so many BIG errors, its not funny. Quite amazing actually, how such errors can make it to print. You'll spend more time fixing the errors that actual real study.
Airline Interview Questions Explained (Captains ABC) is good.
HTBJ is a good read. You'd be guaranteed to get Q's out of here.
Airline Interview Questions Explained (Captains ABC) is good.
HTBJ is a good read. You'd be guaranteed to get Q's out of here.
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I have seen both the Preparing for Cathay Interview and HTBJ on ebay for pretty cheap. I used both for my interviews and would recommend them highly as must reads. I studied more for this job than I did for most college exams, but it paid off.
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Preparing for Your Cathay Pacific Interview
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Advice from some of my friends who have done interviewing for CX. As long as you are not completely ignorant about aviation, spend 90% of your time on the HR questions. What would your boss say about you? Why do you want to leave etc.
How you answer these types of questions will make or break it...not knowing what frequency MLS transmits on is not important!
Dont be negative about anything. If you dont get a technical question right, how you handle not getting it right is far more important than the actual question.
Its kinda obvious really -and easy for me to say since i passed mine;-) WHo do you want to be sitting next to for hours at a time. Be that person.
cheers and good luck
How you answer these types of questions will make or break it...not knowing what frequency MLS transmits on is not important!
Dont be negative about anything. If you dont get a technical question right, how you handle not getting it right is far more important than the actual question.
Its kinda obvious really -and easy for me to say since i passed mine;-) WHo do you want to be sitting next to for hours at a time. Be that person.
cheers and good luck
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Dear Numero,
As the DFO I would just like to put you in your place about a few things. Firstly the frequency for MLS is very important to any Cathay candidate. I must stress to all prospective pilots that not knowing everything about everything will just not be tolerated. MLS is very important as it may be used in two airports in the next 40 or 50 years: this makes it a navaid that could potentially be the source of a line check question and therefore must be committed to memory. Secondly I would like to dicuss with you your recruitment bonus for the last quarter, you seem to be slipping in the numbers recently. Some of these Americans you have given us are becoming rather unruly. Tea and bickies, shall we say 9AM Friday.
See you then.
Regards,
Rhick.
PS Please don't bring me any more of your wife's apple pie!
As the DFO I would just like to put you in your place about a few things. Firstly the frequency for MLS is very important to any Cathay candidate. I must stress to all prospective pilots that not knowing everything about everything will just not be tolerated. MLS is very important as it may be used in two airports in the next 40 or 50 years: this makes it a navaid that could potentially be the source of a line check question and therefore must be committed to memory. Secondly I would like to dicuss with you your recruitment bonus for the last quarter, you seem to be slipping in the numbers recently. Some of these Americans you have given us are becoming rather unruly. Tea and bickies, shall we say 9AM Friday.
See you then.
Regards,
Rhick.
PS Please don't bring me any more of your wife's apple pie!
