When the bases were closed, the affected pilots were offered the choice of either returning to Hong Kong on COS18, or redundancy. Most took the latter option. Why would any of them return as a 'new joiner', on less money than they could have earned if they'd returned when their bases closed? If it were me, I'd be insulted by such an 'offer'.

There's plenty of opportunity outside the sheltered workshop of Hong Kong, not least the ability to lead a normal life.

You will be surprised how many took the RA65 when the company desperately sent out letters. Some can't get the visa to work in the US despite finish recruitment.

The Company chose to close all except the US (since included) at the height of COVID-19 hysteria and in the midst of an organized campaign by ex-KA pilots. Only those with previously qualified PR were granted access to HK. Many PR holders who could return, refused. All non-PR pilots were required to apply for a visa following base closures as a condition to continue their CX employment. All were denied and all were summarily dismissed. Only through court action in the relative jurisdictions, was Cathay forced to provide a separation package to terminated pilots.

IMHO Not a single based pilot would move to Hong Kong at this point even if the great Augustus called them up personally.

You would have to be really desperate to come back to HK and submit to the endless rules and restrictions placed on you by the CHP, even if you get past the significant paycut. There’s plenty of opportunities in much better places for anyone actually pulling the wool from over their eyes. Rumour has it some of the SO’s with previous flight time are also on their way out :oh:

Fair enough. The point was that few (if any) who were able to go back to Hong Kong at the time would go back now as 'new joiners', on even less salary.

It may seem unusual to bring new pilots into an airline without a simulator "ride" as the Americans have it, but it is not new. Back in the 1990s in CX, Human Resources as it then was wanted to take the simulator out of recruitment completely as they were convinced their psychometric testing and general interview were sufficient. In the end FLT OPS managed to keep it in, but the weighting was reduced to 10% of the scoring. We did start training a few Lulus at that time, including a couple of simulator instructors with Parker 51 hours from another well respected airline but we caught them in the slips after a couple of overs.

Which comes to the point now. It is probably cheaper to bring new entrant pilots into Hong Kong and weed them out here in the first few weeks than go to the expense of sending an interview team to JNB/CPT and sim-check them there. Then you have to quarantine the interview team on return. More $$$, even if you can get rooms for them.

Personally I would be very happy to sit alongside an ex Comair pilot and leave him in the seat while I go for crew rest. It was pretty competitive to get a job with Comair anyway, and they will have done multiple sectors RHS (or even LHS) on B737s which is a good basis for further training. I'll stick my neck out and add that the Saffers as a bunch are perhaps more stoic than other nationalities right now, and will do the hard yards for professional development.

disclaimer:- Not a Saffer