cathay pilot bases
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: HKG
sorry if i'm going off topic, but why all the bashing?
they might be pushing for three men crews instead of four - but at the crux of it is the pilot; his mindset, for lack of a better word. am i right in saying that most people become pilots for their love of flying? if so, then why do they grumble when they don't get pay rises?
the way i see it, they don't get their pay docked (significantly) if they make a bad landing or if they fall ill. arguably, i understand why they would be moaning; cx management isn't exactly the best. but at the same time, they're undergoing a rather rapid expansion - as well as the CPP, there have been more DESOs/FOs (?) arguably this makes for more competition when competing for an outport basing and i can see why this would affect the pilots, as an outport basing could be seen as a hygiene factor, or motivation factor depending on which motivation theory you're looking t it from.
if they don't want to wait, no one is stopping them from leaving; there are people out there, just as skilled, if not more, and probably more enthusiastic about the job than they would ever be. but then again, joining cx was a CHOICE. yes, back then in the late eighties/early nineties it might have been seen as a more attractive company than it is seen as now - but the industry has changed;so have the airlines, and unfortunately, as it seems to me, so has the mindset of the pilots?
i don't intend to offend anyone , but it seems like in the 60s, pilots flew because they wanted to fly; they loved to fly. might still be the case nowadays, but with all things, money has taken priority, which can't be blamed.
just my two cents worth.
they might be pushing for three men crews instead of four - but at the crux of it is the pilot; his mindset, for lack of a better word. am i right in saying that most people become pilots for their love of flying? if so, then why do they grumble when they don't get pay rises?
the way i see it, they don't get their pay docked (significantly) if they make a bad landing or if they fall ill. arguably, i understand why they would be moaning; cx management isn't exactly the best. but at the same time, they're undergoing a rather rapid expansion - as well as the CPP, there have been more DESOs/FOs (?) arguably this makes for more competition when competing for an outport basing and i can see why this would affect the pilots, as an outport basing could be seen as a hygiene factor, or motivation factor depending on which motivation theory you're looking t it from.
if they don't want to wait, no one is stopping them from leaving; there are people out there, just as skilled, if not more, and probably more enthusiastic about the job than they would ever be. but then again, joining cx was a CHOICE. yes, back then in the late eighties/early nineties it might have been seen as a more attractive company than it is seen as now - but the industry has changed;so have the airlines, and unfortunately, as it seems to me, so has the mindset of the pilots?
i don't intend to offend anyone , but it seems like in the 60s, pilots flew because they wanted to fly; they loved to fly. might still be the case nowadays, but with all things, money has taken priority, which can't be blamed.
just my two cents worth.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: in time anda space
timmy,
its not about the love flying. Ask SOs or relief FOs how much flying actually gets done by them!
What it is about is the constantly attack and erosion on terms and conditions in our contract and changing career expectations.
Imagine if you took off and during your flight you constantly were told to climb or descend 10,000', make 90degree turns, rerouted to new destinations, told to dump fuel etc etc. Then imagine if this kept happening on a regular basis!
As pilots we like to have control over our careers like we have control over our flights. CX management, as well qualified as their zoology degrees make them, don't particularly care about consistency or fairness. They simply change the rules on a day to day basis as it suits them to deal with whatever crisis/opportunity has arisen.
So Timmy, join CX - or if you are already in CX - keep flexible and for gods sake don't assume any period of time to command or expect any base and then you won't be disappointed. Also don't read the CX annual report where you see the executive giving themselves big payrises and bonuses of up to 80% of salary as then you will realise how little we are worth to them!
its not about the love flying. Ask SOs or relief FOs how much flying actually gets done by them!
What it is about is the constantly attack and erosion on terms and conditions in our contract and changing career expectations.
Imagine if you took off and during your flight you constantly were told to climb or descend 10,000', make 90degree turns, rerouted to new destinations, told to dump fuel etc etc. Then imagine if this kept happening on a regular basis!
As pilots we like to have control over our careers like we have control over our flights. CX management, as well qualified as their zoology degrees make them, don't particularly care about consistency or fairness. They simply change the rules on a day to day basis as it suits them to deal with whatever crisis/opportunity has arisen.
So Timmy, join CX - or if you are already in CX - keep flexible and for gods sake don't assume any period of time to command or expect any base and then you won't be disappointed. Also don't read the CX annual report where you see the executive giving themselves big payrises and bonuses of up to 80% of salary as then you will realise how little we are worth to them!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Earth
I think a big disappointment for many who join CX (me anyway) is to see how Cathay is constantly trying to work around our contracts and doesn't always honor their signatures. If only they would respect in good faith the intent of our contracts that would be enough for me. I love flying but I also expect my boss to respect the contract that we both signed. Direct entry captains, DEFO straight on bases (read 6.3 of the basing policy), late assessment of SOs to avoid paying bypass etc are a few disappointing examples 
