CX Advanced Entry Cadet- maximum age?
 

Hi everyone,

Although CX publish a minimum age for the Advanced Entry Cadetship, do they have an upper age limit?

I'm about to turn 41 with just over 300hrs TT, an Australian CPL/ Multi Engine Command Instrument Rating and all ATPL subjects. Currently I work in a Flight Dispatch capacity for an Australian Airline.

I'm fully aware of the degradation in the overall remuneration package for S/O's at CX, and have spent time in an alternative career developing some financial security. As such, we have the ability to ride out some leaner years of lower pay and no HKG Housing allowance.

Given the current state of the Industry in Australia, and having weighed up all available options (not many), the CX Advanced Entry Cadetship is currently the best way for me to achieve my career goals.

Would be great to hear your thoughts- is it worth giving it a go at my age or am I being unrealistic?

Cheers,
Gearup.

Give it a go and if you don't like it then so be it but be aware of the cost of living here.

But hey, it's a big shiny jet! You may not own it, you won't physically fly it for at least four years after you join, at your age you will probably never be in command of it, and you will be sitting up all night in it then coming home to try and get some sleep in some noisy Hong Kong dog-box... but it's a big shiny jet!

(Well, not so shiny after the filthy South China air has been at it after a few HKG transits).

what a broken record...give the guy a break, just trying to find out if there is an upper age limit!

...among other things, he also stated that he's 'developed some financial security' in an alternative career so that he can join on lesser conditions than the majority of crew in the airline, and contribute to that race to the bottom; you could almost call that 'pay to fly', but hey, it's a big shiny jet!

At his age, I do not think that it would be the 'career' that he thinks it would be. There is also a 'we' in his post which implies that there is at least a 'significant other', if not a family; therefore, so much for 'quality of life' for them. But it's all worth it, just to sit in that big shiny jet.

I would advise him to stick to his current career, where he has already 'developed some financial security', not give all his savings to a rapacious Hong Kong landlord and Park 'n' Shop, while he waits for the JFO upgrade that might happen at the age of 46. He could fly recreational aircraft for pleasure. They are affordable, and many perform well. Some of those little RAA machines shine up pretty well, too.

Could someone just answer his question instead of taking this, and any other, opportunity to slag the airline and Hong Kong. Sorry mate I don't know, will try to find out. For me HK is great place to live safer than Sydney and most other big cities, plenty to do, but a bit expensive. Good luck.

Gear up
 

Not sure of age limit. I'd think you'd be near the top of the band.

But read the above posts.

This company is a dog full of fleas, a most unhappy and depressing place to work, and what conditions are left are being chipped at as night follows day.

My two cents.....STAY AWAY. CX is NOT a good choice. At all.

Good luck whatever you choose.

Gearupandorff,


Give it a go. Put in your application and ultimately you will have your answer. Keep in mind some of the considerations in respect to living in HKG that others have posted. If its not you that gets the job it will be somebody else on the same conditions. Me personally I would rather share the flight deck with someone like you that has an interest in aviation than someone straight out of school who only applied because their girlfriend saw the ad and he just wants to keep his girlfriend happy.

There used to be thing called "Age Commensurate with Experience".

Now it's "Age Commensurate with Naivety". In the interview HR questions when asked "Why do you want to join CX?", will you answer "Because the standards are low enough now and I can afford it?"

Gearup: if flying truly is your passion then PM me and I'll try to offer some alternative avenues that will offer a FAR more rewarding career than what a C-Scale CX contract will leave you with.

So at age 41 your options are:

1) do 5 years in GA flying a tired Navajo into some sh*thole earning nothing in the hope you don't kill yourself, instead get a break and end up RHS in an ATR or the like if you're lucky

2) take a CTC course or similar for around $230 K in oz dollars to come out the other side with a reasonably good chance of RHS in a 737 somewhere in Europe followed by another 5 years on cadet conditions paying the loan off

3) join CX, paid every month, half decent aeroplane without much **** falling off it, no debt, F/O job after 4 yrs and a lump sum that's given for free if you stay a while....

For the above posters like curtain rod with their thin grasp of the reality of aviation these days I agree option 3 would seem like the worst choice you have....

I really wouldn't bother mate.

The job is seriously unrewarding, the money goes nowhere and the lifestyle these days, 777 aside, is absolutey crap. Industrial relations are approaching all time lows and continue to get worse while Hong Kong gets more expensive by the day. Best of luck getting your kids in a decent school too, as its practically impossible without seriously deep pockets.

In your 40's you should be enjoying the fruits of your labours so I wouldnt be too keen to throw in a barbie on the beach and footy on a Sunday for a Soulless Tung Chung shoebox in a city where anything vagueley interesting to do makes the cost in Perth look like eastern Europe!

When you see most of the BCs in their 30s and FPs in their 40s, you know the answer!

http://ctworkingmoms.com/wp-content/...uch-makeup.jpg

SP..how very dare you!!

I don't think there's an upper limit. Just be ready to answer questions about how you plan to live in Hong Kong and what your future plans are.

Don't listen to the naysayers here :mad:

Give it a go if you want to fly, half these guys got in to young to appreciate what they are doing.

I told my mum when I grow up I want to be a pilot, she told me to choose :}

Actually, if he wants to fly, joining CX is probably the last thing he'd want to do.

For anyone who wants to fly, military is the best option. Flying a big jet is not real flying. An F15 beats a 777 any day. At this gentleman's age the military is no longer an option so handling a big jet is probably as good an option as any and CX are as good as all the rest, if not better than most.

If you want to join a company run by the characters from Rainbow then go ahead :ok:

I thought it was the Wiggles....or is that just running airbus?

They're right. Cost of housing and schooling in HK is not for the faint of heart.

After 2 years of living hand to mouth to a very low standard as compared to all the crews, the shiny jet will not seem so shiny. The despair will rot you from within.

3000 hours. No ATPL? What on earth have you been doing?

My advice, get your ATPL, buy an A320 or 737NG type rating and go sell youself to one of the Asian LCCs.
You'll be in the RHS, paid crap but cost of living will be low. Keep your head down, go to work, keep smiling and there will be a glimmer of a chance of a command. Eventually.

As distinct from never with CX.