Cheap housing in Wan Chai for the single pilot in HKG
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The problem is those young men and women age like the rest of us and living with 3 other dudes in your 30's or 40's can't be that 'enjoyable'.
The times haven't really changed, young people have always joined airlines, but they joined on salaries where they could live on their own and raise families.
What has changed is the crappy, 'living with other people' lifestyle young folks are willing to accept just to sit in a shiny jet.
The times haven't really changed, young people have always joined airlines, but they joined on salaries where they could live on their own and raise families.
What has changed is the crappy, 'living with other people' lifestyle young folks are willing to accept just to sit in a shiny jet.
People don't go into aviation because they follow the Bernie Cornfeld "Do you sincerely want to be rich?" path; like doctors, engineers, physicists et al, they do it because it amuses them.
Our employers, as professional businessmen, are aware of this but must be made aware that such dedication comes at a price.
It costs to give a pilot a type rating, especially in the CX system.
I am not anti Cathay. I thought they were a good employer. Training a bit peculiar* to themselves cf RAF and UK airlines but it seems to work.
They looked after me when I was off long term following a road traffic accident so can't complain.
* Well, very unusual.
Of course MH wouldn't like to 'spend a night in one of these prison cells'. He's contemplating his bonus in his superior accommodation as 'shiny jetters' accept the cheap conditions on offer and his underlings fall over themselves to train them.
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For the skygods. who dosent want to share, live cheap in HKG island western area..under 10k per month view of the city..only 1hr on the bus to airport.
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/10/2...100-per-month/
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https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/10/2...100-per-month/
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In BA the Captain of a shiny jet lives in a nice house (which he owns) with his wife and 2.4 children. He goes to work in a 2 or 3 year old BMW (which he owns) and enjoys decent rostering, a good salary and is well protected by his Union and the Law of the Land.
The First Officer is pretty much the same but lives in a slightly smaller house and drives to work in a 4 or 5 year old BMW - both of which he owns or aspires to own.
Before the age of 30 they may have done many different flying jobs ranging from air taxis to military FJs. They may have shared houses but will always have owned a car since passing their driving test at 17/18.
You see where I'm going with this……………yet still they come to Cathay and very few leave. Amazing really.
The First Officer is pretty much the same but lives in a slightly smaller house and drives to work in a 4 or 5 year old BMW - both of which he owns or aspires to own.
Before the age of 30 they may have done many different flying jobs ranging from air taxis to military FJs. They may have shared houses but will always have owned a car since passing their driving test at 17/18.
You see where I'm going with this……………yet still they come to Cathay and very few leave. Amazing really.
Last edited by Arfur Dent; 29th Oct 2016 at 17:30.
Tells me that early days at CX are regarded well by 'the market'. Pre 30 year old pilots will enjoy life sharing accommodation and having fun in the city without the necessity of owning a car.
What troubles me is what happens then? There will be no prospect of ever owning a house or car if you get married and have kids. Sharing would be an interesting prospect!
So it is an "elephant in the room" situation that ticks away as the young cadets grow up. Will they stay or go? Is Cathay a feeder for other airlines or will pilots just stay and get on with it?
Not quite the Cathay of old but the accountants know that.
I guess only time will tell.
What troubles me is what happens then? There will be no prospect of ever owning a house or car if you get married and have kids. Sharing would be an interesting prospect!
So it is an "elephant in the room" situation that ticks away as the young cadets grow up. Will they stay or go? Is Cathay a feeder for other airlines or will pilots just stay and get on with it?
Not quite the Cathay of old but the accountants know that.
I guess only time will tell.
Join Date: May 2007
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Yes, because CX is a bloody good deal for the youngsters. But as you say, its a ticking time bomb. I personally also wonder if those guys hang around much longer once they realised that they are stacked in one of the most expensive cities in the world.
what you fail to realise is that the first cadets to be played upon hkpa and now coming to the point where they have gained a couple thousand hours wide body time.only now are the majority slowly coming in to a position to leave. next few years should be interesting
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The salient point here is "when Air China assume majority ownership". If you don't see this as fact, you are on another planet. Conditions as you've known them, regardless of scale or rank, will never be the same again.
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Awesome looking bathroom! I just picture two S/Os trying to get ready at the same time to go to work. One is brushing his teeth and getting his leg splattered on by his roommate taking a leak next to him.
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It's time to give up on the hope that others will leave to improve your package: Others are not leaving for the same reasons you are not. Even if 1000 left, there are still 1000's more lining up to take an even worse deal.
23 years ago, the company was told: "Nobody wil be so stupid to join on a B scale package as we approach the 1997 handover to China, you have to improve the A-scale if you want to attract pilots to Hong kong from now on".
Did most B-scalers leave?
Guys/girls share accomodation, Mid-levels is good and make Hong kong a great experience!
23 years ago, the company was told: "Nobody wil be so stupid to join on a B scale package as we approach the 1997 handover to China, you have to improve the A-scale if you want to attract pilots to Hong kong from now on".
Did most B-scalers leave?
Guys/girls share accomodation, Mid-levels is good and make Hong kong a great experience!
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Tsimbelt. I don't think you were here in those heady days of the early B Scale. I was, and I can tell you that pilots left in droves within the first year or so. I personally know several who rejoined their countries' militaries, a few who left to Air Canada and many who left to British Airways and Virgin. Technically you may be right with the word "most", but don't underestimate the "many" that left. When COS '94 was introduced, the A Scalers were given a sign or be fired 25% pay cut, and the B Scalers were given a 25% pay rise.
Most of the guys who were hired in those days were 30 plus year old men with masses of previous heavy or fast jet time, generally with families. The younger men and women only started joining a few years later. Now we're getting kids as young as 18. The present conditions offered by the company are well suited to them, but not to anyone with family. But yet, they still come and then complain about the conditions under which they joined.
Most of the guys who were hired in those days were 30 plus year old men with masses of previous heavy or fast jet time, generally with families. The younger men and women only started joining a few years later. Now we're getting kids as young as 18. The present conditions offered by the company are well suited to them, but not to anyone with family. But yet, they still come and then complain about the conditions under which they joined.
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If the cadets gain a few thousand hours of flying time and move to another airline, won't they start from the bottom of the seniority list? Wouldn't this just be another delay to the LHS?