Aren't you bored to death as SO?
 

I am to start with CX as SO, but also have the option to fly short sectors on a medium jet(A320) with loads of hands on time.(I have no jet experience)
My question is;
1)How do you cope for 4years as a SO? Aren't you bored to death, just watching the autopilot?
2)Doesn't it take all the fun out of flying?
3)Are there SO's that don't make the upgrade JFO/FO? Does that mean you would have spent 4years without having a rating in the end??
4)Would it be better to get some jet experience and then reapply as FO? Seems CX is going to start bringing FO's direct onto PAX fleet??
5)Is flying for CX as FO really worth 4 years wait?

Thanks

Regulator:uhoh:

Well,it really depends what you want.If you are into flying then it is npt a job for you.If you are into lifestyle and the flying is secondary,then go for it.I thonk being an SO is probably not great if you have no jet experience.I love my lifestyle at CX and i know it won't last that long so i enjoy every minute of it.But that's me...just my 2 cents.

I have the same question regarding JFO upgrade, what is the actual process?What are the obstacles if any?

Right attitude,personal track record within the company, having passed all check/training to an accepatble standard,passing a Type rating course in accordance with time allocated, within operating parameters of CX etc?What would happen in the unfortunate event that one does fail the upgrade?

Cheers
A330

It all depends on what you want out of life. a HKG based SO probably earns 2x that of a 320 driver, especially after 2 years when the housing doubles. Yes you can stay driving a 320 around for the rest of your life but if you want to be able to retire comfortably you need to get onto a widebody payscale and there arnt that many jobs out there that will hire you onto the right seat straight away.

"4 years as an SO", those days have passed, a chap i spoke to today is doing his in 3 years and it is only getting shorter. Now say you join CX at 30 and retire at 60.... it will be 60 by then or more likely 70.... then it means you give up 3 years of flying for 27 years of wide body FO/ CPTs pay.

As an SO you will have on average 15-20 days off a month. If you are so desperate to fly then go to Aus or somewhere and hire a lighty.

My time as an SO were awsome i travelled the world. set up investments, spent time with the wife and family we fishing played golf ....etc....work was a very secondary even tersary part of my life for 3 years and it was fantastic.

If this doesnt convince apeal dont bother coming, it make a long flight sitting next to a down and out SO, it makes a great trip when the guy is keen and making the most of the oppurtunities offered them.

What airlines precisely are you comparing to make this sweeping comparison between payscale.... And your predictions of being able to retire comfortably.

Have you genuinely looked at your employee contributed provident scheme to see what you could realistically expect to attain by retirement age be it 55 or 60... I assure you the prospects are not at all encouraging for a B Scaler....

Further have you seriously done your homework and compared your expected provident fund returns with other airlines such as QANTAS.... I am sure you will be struck dumbfounded at how poorly your retirement scheme is actually performing in comparison.

Bored?
 

Just to cut to the chase and answer the question. I can't possibly see how one could be bored as an S/O in Cathay Pacific.

I just got back from the beach in Phuket, my second trip to Thailand in the past nine months. Ad to that count six trips to Europe, one to Australia, two to mainland China.

Two weddings in Oz next month, snowboarding in Japan in December, diving in the Philippines in January.. and all this in my days between S/O duties.

Apply yourself for the sim checks, front up with a positive attitude, play down the suntan and all this could be yours for 3 or 4 years. I still have 25 years at Cathay, there is plenty of time for some window seat time.

Back to the pool..

Regards
Cronus

Typical month at CX for me as an SO is 3 trips which are almost always 4 day trips. Usually leave evening day one and returen morning day 4 so it's more like 2 full days and 2 half days away from home. So 3 times 4 equals 12 days of work, with the remained be G days or O days(of which I've never had to work on) so that leaves 18 days off. There is a Sim module every other month so subtract one day off every other month. If you have a block of reserve it is 6 days and usually takes the place of one trip. For me getting called on reserve is uaually 50/50 either not at all or called for a trip/crew up in the Sim. If you can manage to make smart requests you can get your sked with big blocks of days off to make like having a small amount of leave each month. Works for me!!!!!!
As far as getting bored I think it's more the people your sitting beside than the work it'self. Sitting beside the right person the time flys, sitting beside Mr. No personality 6 or 7 hours of starring at the PFD can drag on.
As with Cornus, traveled lots, done temp basing, and enjoyed evry min of it.

Maybe so, but have you heard what their career prospects are looking like? No promotions, salary freezes etc. All up career salary earnings are going to be a lot less. This isn't going to help their retirement schemes race up the charts.

Speaking to mates in QF they are going to need every single penny of their retirement funds just to fund buying a second hand caravan.

Give me CX anyday..

Now back to enjoying those 18 days off on the beach...;)

Good one Cronus
 

Dear Mr Rhodes,

I am appalled by your desire to intoduce a new lower payscale for DEFO's that requires more work for less pay and denegrates my career structure as an SO. Further, your inability to improve RP04, resulting in the rejection of RP07, your blatant disregard of any calls to engage in meaningful discussions concerning pay rises, has left me with no other alternative than to state;

"I just got back from the beach in Phuket, my second trip to Thailand in the past nine months. Ad to that count six trips to Europe, one to Australia, two to mainland China.

Two weddings in Oz next month, snowboarding in Japan in December, diving in the Philippines in January.. and all this in my days between S/O duties.

Apply yourself for the sim checks, front up with a positive attitude, play down the suntan and all this could be yours for 3 or 4 years. I still have 25 years at Cathay, there is plenty of time for some window seat time."

Back to the pool"

So, Mr Rhodes, when can I expect you to take the us pilots seriously?
Your ever obedient servant,
Cronus

PS Why do the rest of CX staff hate us pilots so???

Liam,

Ref your ps,

Oderint dum metuant.

Caligula

Moosp,

The only "fear", is the fear that we are becoming a joke......:rolleyes:

demonstrates what can happen when absolute power is combined with a total lack of responsibility and respect for others


http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_...caligula2a.jpg

Caligula

It was Nick Rhodes who told my course on induction day that we should make the most of the S/O time whilst we have it.

Everything I have done with regard to personal travel since I started at Cathay has been on my own time. I chose a lifestyle roster which affords me days off to travel. Why the smart ass remarks? Is it because I still derive some gratification from my job? And what do you think NR or the CX board for that matter use PPRuNe as some kind of barometer for prevailing opinion and morale at Cathay?

I can't wait to upgrade but whilst I'm waiting, I'll enjoy my days off. Perhaps you should do the same...

Yes, if you are an experienced pilot you will get bored as an SO. It is part of the compromise of CX.

Every couple of months you should spend the money and go and fly a real aeroplane for an hour. It reminds you that you can still do that Pilot Sh**, which is very good for your self esteem.

If you arrive single to HKG as an SO it is like being put out to stud for three years. If you arrive with a partner it is the best chance you will ever have of travelling with them in a fascinating part of the world that will leave you both with wonderful lifetime memories. Those that spend all their time off going back to their home country are missing the point of coming to HKG in the first place.

Most SOs I talk to are itching to get back in the right seat, but they know that their present time off is a rare gift in the business world, and make the most of it.

Oh, and Caligula looks to have had a nose job, by an enemy. Or did the sculptor dare to add his syphilitic nose? He is I believe the Patron Saint of failed MBAs.

FWIW

Don't even pay attention to idiots like Liam Gallagher, they have no friends and lead a dull and boring life, so when they hear of a junior crew making most of their time off, they become envious and jealous. ;)

Dragon69,

If you haven't got a sense of humour I think you're right!

"they have no friends and lead a dull and boring life"

On the other hand Liam might well be taking the p**s!:}

Bored of course.
 

Of course you are bored as an S/O, there's nothing to the job that a 200hr cadet pilot can't do, but it all boils down to an attitude. If work is your only focus in life you will quickly get frustrated. But if you look at what you get in return it is pretty sweet. I spend more time with my family than anybody other father I know (back home). You have so much time to do and see so many things it's staggering.
If you ever need a reality check, go home and compare your job with someone who works 9 to 5. I was almost embarrased to tell them. Lets face it, its money for jam. Compared to what I was doing it's 3 years of semi-retirement.

Interesting to see your different views on being a SO for CX. Question; Can you actually live this "sweet" life in Hong Kong on the SO pay???? What is a normal take home for a SO?
/CP

in short yes.

captain prop
Depends! Salary is about $35K HKD a month in year 1 rising to I think about $49K a month in year 4...I am sure an SO will correct me if I am wrong.
If you have no kids then it is money for jam. If you have kid/s but not yet at school, you will still be ok but probably not save much/anything. If you have school age kids then there is a reasonable chance of you going backwards financially till you get upgraded. You get half the housing allowance for first 2 years...some friends of mine just joined and they found a nice 1300' place in DB and they have a 1 year old child.

Like many others have said...if you focus on the 'not flying' side of being an SO it will be a painful 3-4years. If you focus on the lifestyle side of the job you will have a ball. I have only ever had one unhappy SO...and that was because he was on his umpteenth flight to/from Oz on the 330 which are pretty much the worst trips for an SO.
cheers