Cathay US Bases
 

Anyone have insight on wait times for US bases as a Cathay pilot? I'm considering the the SO TT route so I know it will be at least 3 years until I would upgrade to FO. Any new rumors on more/less US bases? The info I see in other threads seems like it may be outdated. Thanks!

My advice would be that you should only come to Hong Kong if you are prepared to live here for the long term. You may or may not get a base later in your career; there are no guarantees. Future base slots are likely to be limited in number and there is a long queue of people wanting to leave Hong Kong. CX can and does change the rules on a whim, and you may find yourself hard out of luck.

Been here for over 15 years. The last time bases were opened in the US last year I was about number 30 in the list for 3 slots. I'm also able to live in Australia and bases haven't been offered since 2008. It would be even worse there. I'm sure you get the picture of what I'm saying. You have sweet f**k all chance of a base for many years if at all.

AllGreen, some people on here can be very mean.

Bottom line: don't come to Cathay. It ain't what it was and will never again be what it was, one of the world's leading airlines. You're better off flying Dash 8's for United Express, really. Most Americans I know will be quitting within the next year or two, even those who've been here for 15 years or more.

If you're an American, this isn't the place for you.

Bases will continue to be offered to full expat housing eligible pilots to get them out of HKG where they are very expensive. They will not be available to those on HKPA for a very, very long time. Plan accordingly.

Stay in the US

Listen to 3 hole

Agree with the above. If you can apply to a US airline (citizenship, etc), then don't even think about coming to CX.

The only reason any Americans stay at CX is because they are too old to start over at a US carrier. Most would leave if if they were 10-20 years younger. Most are 40+. Nearly all under 40 have left or have applications out right now.

If you want to join a company whose favorite two words are "can not", than this is the place for you. If you want to be lied too and cheated? This is the place for you. If you want to be told to your face, " good job", and than have the opposite written up, with no ability to contest it, than this is the place for you. If you want to have never failed a check or any training events and than told your not suitable to be offered a command course because??? This is the place for you. If you want your t&c to always erode? This is the place for you. I would have to question anyones apptitude if they choose to join CX.

Usually these kind of responses would be representative of a select few who are bitter, angry and can't take responsibility for their own poor choices.

Unfortunately they are all 100% accurate and I think you would have a tough time finding any American and most other westerners who would disagree.

It was around 9-10 years seniority during last years bid for west coast bases.
No new bids have opened since.

Do come if you're single and never want a family. Or if you never want your own car. Or if you never want your own house. Or if you never want to go back home (if you did get a Base you'd have to come back for a Command).
So, finally - if you STILL came after all the above - go and see a psychiatrist.:confused:

Just remember that Pprune attracts the bitter and twisted. There are people who enjoy Hong Kong, its just that morale within the company is pretty low right now so you're going to get very negative posts here. On the workside, people are tired and fed up. I wouldn't particularly recommend Cathay to anyone right now. As for HK, like I said some people enjoy it but you have to make it right for you in terms of your expectations.

If you're coming here in order to get a US base (presumably you have US citizenship) then frankly I don't think CX is the place for you. How about one of those great jobs in the US?

He's not qualified for "one of those great jobs in the US". If he were, he would not be asking.

He has the hours for TT, so can use CX as a stepping stone, or use a US regional as a stepping stone. Seems to me the US regional would be a much faster way of getting into the right seat at an airline like American or Delta than coming here and sitting in the back of an Airbus for a few years before getting any stick time.

Agree 100%

Some of the best times of my life and best experience came from a regional.

I did more sectors at the regionals than I'll do my entire career at Cathay. I agree some of the best times and experiences came from there.

I interviewed in the summer of 2011 and was promised, with my wife sitting at the table with the "gal" who was interviewing and answering questions, that bases were "ongoing" and that I would be on a base "in no time at all." It was a lie. They flat out lied to my face. I've been at Cathay over 4 years now and I'm still based in Hong Kong, and very shortly resigning. I've been looking intensely back home in the US and things are just too good there to stay at CX hoping for a base in the US. They really have NO intention of every opening up bases again in the US, and if they tell you they are, it's a lie. Ask my crying wife every time she wakes up.

Cathay will reap what they sow and not before time. Good luck back in the US. Can't be worse than FH.

its easy to spot when they are lying.

Their lips are moving.

The best thing you will do for yourself and your wife. Smart decision. You may have to take a step backwards, but you will be able to make a leap forward.
Cheers

How about a new rumour for fun? I heard that Captains are not having their visas renewed in the US... So if the company admits that a Canadian doesn't need a US visa to work in the US, as long as they live in Canada and don't exceed the 180 day limit, does that mean that one day (say a NYC base opens for example) it could be staffed with Canadian pilots??

That is correct. The only people willing to increase their overtime threshold are Canadians. Therefore they have swept under the bus any immigration laws in order to completely drive a wedge in the flight crew.

For the avoidance of doubt - it is illegal to work in the usa if you are not on a citizen, green card holder or holder of a work visa. People do it every day in fields across america.... and a handful of those people get sent back home. Is it possible to work in the USA and not have the legal right to?? Absolutely..... but what happens when you get caught??? Look it up.

The US is onshored girls, not that it matters.... because it was a requirement to have the right to work in your base since before the 2008 basings agreement.

How about this.... lets just not increase the size of JFK, and keep things like they are. Having a JFK base would be really bad for everyone.

According to NTC 016-069 there are to be 200 CN and 380 FO slots to be opened in NY through calendar years 2016 and 2017. There is a caveat though--since this is part of the new 'onshore' company the applications need to be made at the NY CX satellite office located at 360 Furnam Street, Brooklyn, NY.

For those fortunate enough to have a layover there, there's also an excellent investment opportunity in that the bridge near the above address is being privatized and shares are available at a special CX discount of $500 USD each and give full partial ownership--as well as a continuing fractional royalty of toll money collected by traffic going over the bridge. You can ask the desk clerk at the crew hotel who is familiar (just tell him or her you're interested in buying the Brooklyn Bridge).

I also heard that we have a special staff deal for time share slots for those vacationing in Washington DC -- 300 USD for a week. The location's great (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue) and you can make inquiries at the front gate.

At this point, if you believe ANYTHING said or written about future plans of basings (or anything else) before they really happen I genuinely feel sorry for you.

Somebody thought the Canadian captains needed visas. Of course, the Canadian FOs would have also needed visas, but... they're expendable (or more correctly, easily relocatable to HK.)

Then, somebody thought the Canadian captains DON'T need visas.

Obviously, only one of these options is correct. Time will show which one...

Doesn't matter!!! The Company has a fair and equitable policy, "the right to live and work" for all bases. If that changes, scores of Americans leave. It's that simple. Don't tell me that CX doesn't care about 100+ fully trained and qualified American FOs leaving. They do!

Although that is the NEW policy, I know plenty of pilots working in the US who don't have a right to work in the US.