Why CX has difficulty recruiting local cadet pilots?
 

92% of the university students in Hong Kong have myopia.

So what! A lot of major airlines in the world (such as BA) sponsor cadets that wear glasses. This is not the question, only policy (or should I say dedication to localize) is !!

i agree with critical... it's not essential for a pilot to have perfect vision. On the other hand though, since CX is only recruiting 30 or so every year, they can afford to be picky.

True about eyesight however, ab initio programmes require long term commitment and dedication from people who have a genuine love of flying. I don't believe this describes the vast majority of university students in Hong Kong. I'm sure they can muster up as much dedication and commitment (for the right career) but love of flying? I don't think so.

Even with true love of flying won't help. Some applyed with their PPL or even CPL was rejected.

I think it takes more than University education or good eye sight and love of flying. It depends on colour of skin and also which part of the world you are coming from.If the locals want to have a fair chance then probably have to wait for few more decades till the big brothers from North arrives.

Middlepath, if you are so fond of your big brothers from the north. Why wait, go and join them now. Nobody will try and stop you.

It's all about one thing - protecting the jobs and the influence(old boys' club). It's interesting to see so much moaning and complaints about CX and the Stinky Harbor as a whole but there have been so few departures. Is CX pay package so inferior to others??

I think the standard of English also has a lot to do with it. How many genuine locals (born & educated in HK) have a high enough standard of English? Sure, the written aspect may not be too much of a problem but the spoken and casual conversation part often is. I think most who get in to the programme are ethnic chinese who've lived and studied overseas for a while. Anyone agree?

english is a major problem ...

a330 :)

I believe there is an eye sight "minimum"
20/20 corrected, and
20/100 (or is it 100/20?) uncorrected.

True, most of them have been studied abroad. But I guess applicant's personal quality is far more important than what ppl mentioned here before.

There may be numerous reasons for not getting suitable new trainees. But what about the locals who are now working in CX. Some of them have been with CX for more than 12 years and none of them has made it to command. Are they looking for someone who has all the attributes of the Skywalkers to occupy the left seat? How many of the current LS drivers possess ALL the qualities they ask for??

Sitowa,

I guess you may know the ranking in CX is quite different from others. It takes nearly 10 or up to 16 years for Second Officers to promote to Captains. This could be one of the reasons. If I'm correct, the first local Captain will be in near future.

Dear Hotdog

I am neither fond of brothers in the North nor expats from certain countries(old boys club) who thinks they are the only one who knows how to fly an aeroplane. I wonder how you would react if 90% of your national carier would be occupied by chinese.The amount of pilot being exported makes me wonder if there is any let back home.

Maybe the fact that CX has very few local pilots with any real experience is the reason for 90% OS pilots and longer times to command for locals.
Why do any of you expect to be employed before an overseas applicant if they have thousands of hours flying and you have a degree in pottery.
If I'm correct I also think CX was formed by an Australian and American, and was later purchased by a british company (swire) to help with foreign ownership legislation.
Sorry guys but I can't sit and listen to this argument anymore, GET REAL.

I think CX don't really want to recruit local pilots, they just say they do. It's all real nice to say that they intend on selecting 36 cadets this year but I personally don't believe they will recruit that number. It's all just pressure from the SAR government for them to give the locals a chance.

CX is still sort of owned by a British company, but don't forget it has gone public. It is also partly owned by Chinese (although not necessary local).
The training system (or career structure) in CX is of course very different from SIA, BA or even the other local rivalry. CX system is designed to slow the learning process for as long as possible. NASA can train an astronaut in 6-8 years. Are you implying that CX's training is tougher than NASA? Or a Boeing is more difficult than a Shuttle? Anyone disagrees please ask any local SO how much handling time he has on the aircraft. I never understand how to learn to fly by watching.

Cathay started the cadet programme more than 10 years ago, does anyone know if they started off with recruiting around 36 a year at the beginning? If that number hasn't changed that means there had been more than 300 cadets but there are only about 100 local pilots. Does that mean two thirds of cadets who started training actually dropped out?

Yes.