Cathay SIM Instructor
Joined: Dec 2018
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 8
Likes: 8
From: Australia
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 575
Likes: 431
From: Outbush
Because the simulator training department comprises of an old boy network of institutionalised old men with no idea about modern training in year 2025. Cathay Pacific are trying to move towards evidence based training and seem to be of the delusion that they are on track! The reality is that well over half the training reports for competency grading are left blank because not many people know how to complete them. The National Regulator does not discharge their duties assertively, the training facilities are out dated, there is a distrust of the training department by the pilots, distasteful politics and a toxic working environment. The only reason people stay is the money so you have a group of instructors motivated by cash rather than professionalism and flight safety.
But that was then, I hoped it had changed.
obviously not.
shame
Joined: Mar 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 285
From: Moved beyond
Joined: Dec 2018
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 8
Likes: 8
From: Australia
I have seen a video from an instructor attending a standards meeting of the Head of Flying Training handing out beers at 3pm in an official meeting at Cathay City. Various training mangers sat there drinking beer before going back to work in the office. In an airline with recent bad publicity of pilots turning up for work this is a pretty bad example to set. They are trying to instigate Evidence Based Training when half the instructors, mostly entitled institutionalised seniors who have been there for years, have no idea how to do a Competancy Based Assessment. The level of safety and competence for a national airline is appalling, it will not be long before a serious accident happens unfortunately, which is why so many are leaving.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
I have seen a video from an instructor attending a standards meeting of the Head of Flying Training handing out beers at 3pm in an official meeting at Cathay City. Various training mangers sat there drinking beer before going back to work in the office. In an airline with recent bad publicity of pilots turning up for work this is a pretty bad example to set. They are trying to instigate Evidence Based Training when half the instructors, mostly entitled institutionalised seniors who have been there for years, have no idea how to do a Competancy Based Assessment. The level of safety and competence for a national airline is appalling, it will not be long before a serious accident happens unfortunately, which is why so many are leaving.
Joined: Jul 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 172
From: with the ex-CX pond scum (a zoologist was once head of Flight Ops)
He said, ‘Various training mangers sat there drinking beer before going back to work in the office’.
As an aside: ahh, ‘mangers’. A howler I recall from a senior manager’s missive during some unpleasantness a few decades ago
At least the old Valiant pilot and the extendo-pointer with which he would rap you over the knuckles is long gone
As an aside: ahh, ‘mangers’. A howler I recall from a senior manager’s missive during some unpleasantness a few decades ago
At least the old Valiant pilot and the extendo-pointer with which he would rap you over the knuckles is long gone
Last edited by Captain Dart; 13th February 2026 at 05:58.
Joined: Jun 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 384
Likes: 418
From: UK
And of course the Screaming Skull. Didn't like the way Asians would stop walking on the moving walkway as soon as they stepped on and thunder up behind to glare down until they moved aside. Very embarrassing for the rest of the crew. I believe he returned as a sim instructor. God help his victims.
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 241
Likes: 47
From: Runcorn,Cheshire,England
He said, ‘Various training mangers sat there drinking beer before going back to work in the office’.
As an aside: ahh, ‘mangers’. A howler I recall from a senior manager’s missive during some unpleasantness a few decades ago
At least the old Valiant pilot and the extendo-pointer with which he would rap you over the knuckles is long gone
As an aside: ahh, ‘mangers’. A howler I recall from a senior manager’s missive during some unpleasantness a few decades ago
At least the old Valiant pilot and the extendo-pointer with which he would rap you over the knuckles is long gone
if you want to join them then go for it; get an office job
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 223
Likes: 66
The "Screaming Skull"... Not the easiest person to engage with, but once you knew him you appreciated he had experience, skills and knowledge. In fact, he had a heart and and understanding of the job and what it required . I was once on the receiving end of his rancour...survived! A good man in my mind. Cathay long had a need of his kind....and still does.
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,563
Likes: 786
From: The Coal Face
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 417
Likes: 20
From: D(Emona)
The "Screaming Skull"... Not the easiest person to engage with, but once you knew him you appreciated he had experience, skills and knowledge. In fact, he had a heart and and understanding of the job and what it required . I was once on the receiving end of his rancour...survived! A good man in my mind. Cathay long had a need of his kind....and still does.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 5
From: London
SS was certainly part of the "old cx". On that note, does anyone sensibly suggest that the "new" cx is better than the old ? Maybe people like SS understood a thing or two about aviation, and how to keep an airline on the rails. Not certain you could say that about the operation today.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 146
From: Uk
SS was certainly part of the "old cx". On that note, does anyone sensibly suggest that the "new" cx is better than the old ? Maybe people like SS understood a thing or two about aviation, and how to keep an airline on the rails. Not certain you could say that about the operation today.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 5
From: London
SS knew all about "people". He just didn't suffer fools and incompetence. If you couldn't do your job properly, you would be on the wrong end of a career defining event. Every good airline needs people who could cut through the cr*p and protect the airlines operation and reputation. I understand that we have now had a generation of snowflakes who seem to need a bit of hand holding, but ultimately it will be proven that people like Jmack were right in their application of standards and operational excellence.
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 5
From: London
on another note...a post I made back in March of 2108...almost 8 years ago:
In case it isn't perfectly clear: make for the lifeboats asap, as this ship has struck the iceberg and will sink. The management are sitting on the deck playing their instruments, but their feet are already getting wet. There is no saving this airline, as the management have no credibility, no honesty, no morality, no competence, no vision. It is dead. If you have any other option, take it while it is still available. Otherwise, you will find yourselves (and your families) in an impossible and horrid situation. Then, you will only have yourselves to blame.
Sadly, this has proven to be the case. Does anyone else believe CX will ever again be a "career" airline...?
In case it isn't perfectly clear: make for the lifeboats asap, as this ship has struck the iceberg and will sink. The management are sitting on the deck playing their instruments, but their feet are already getting wet. There is no saving this airline, as the management have no credibility, no honesty, no morality, no competence, no vision. It is dead. If you have any other option, take it while it is still available. Otherwise, you will find yourselves (and your families) in an impossible and horrid situation. Then, you will only have yourselves to blame.
Sadly, this has proven to be the case. Does anyone else believe CX will ever again be a "career" airline...?
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 911
Likes: 334
From: uk
Trafalgar I don’t necessarily disagree with the essence of what you are saying. Having also gone through the school of hard knocks and worked for Cathay in the ‘old days’. Including somehow surviving the command course. However I had built up a carapace of (much used word now) resilience having been battered into shape in a prior airline, Britannia Airways. The chief trainer of aforesaid company after a particularly fraught simulator session had assessed me as ‘foxtrotting useless’. Harsh but fair I suppose. In terms of cx and the individual concerned with the amusing sobriquet you are not wrong in that he is highly knowledgeable. My take is that there should be some middle ground. A little courtesy in the professional context is not out of place and I also agree that a few of the newer generation can be a little ahem, over sensitive. Essentially there is no place or should not be for the brutal debrief laced with profanity which has occurred in the past. Probably a good thing.
Joined: Jun 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 384
Likes: 418
From: UK
I think the S S at one time or another had to apologise to most of the station managers in the Asian network. The impression I got of him was of barely controlled rage. His background suggested a very good pilot ability but he was one of the few ex fighter pilots who seemed to have difficulty in adapting to a team environment.