Much news lately anyone?

Looking for that to. I am not typed. Loads of jet time.

I just got an invitation for a interview today. I have NO jet time and all the TP aircraft I have flown are under 5.7T

Anyone else get a mail???

Nooooo, they don't just take anyone?

So where is the big commuting package they were going to roll out before the BA Roadshow? Who would have guessed it was just porky pies! Good luck tomorrow all those attending...

Gentlemen: if you are 40ish or under, run, don't walk to a career in BA. If you stay here, you will wake up 5,10, 15 years down the road and BITTERLY regret not taking this opportunity. This company is doomed in the long run. No matter what the AT's tell you, you can be ASSURED that eventually they will prove hollow promises. Don't pass up the most fertile opportunity to establish yourselves in a proper aviation career, with a proper company, and proper work rules. Stay here and be guaranteed that you will wake up several years from now shedding bitter tears for missing this chance.

What position did you apply in the careers website?
I applied with 1700TT with a mix of Tprop and Jet time and got the no thanks email, i think it was because i applied to the A320 f/o vacancy. Not quite the one i would liked to put my info, but couldn't find a Non-Rated vacancy.

HKE assessment
 

Hi

I have been invited to a HKE interview for A320 ntr fo position. Can anybody who has been recently please give me some feedback on the interview process, notably the sim check and individual interview.

How long does it take, what is involved in the sim ride etc.
Thanks

Got an invitation for an interview too, but still not sure if I'll be going or not, my main concerns being the high cost of accommodation, not being able to commute home and the MBA (G) which could be adjusted and the MBA (P) which could be cancelled!

Hi buddy, can You please let know how it goes afterwards? Thanks!

Curtain rod,

Approx 37 applied from CX

BA took 3 or maybe 2 (not exactly sure).

Sorry for thread drift.....

Curtain Rod, I have no idea.

Would you prefer senior experienced guys who weren't what they were looking for or didn't put the work in or a bunch of low experience guys who saw a good opportunity in front of them but needed a few more years on type?

Everyone experienced told me they could trip over walking down the street and get back up on their feet with a yes letter from BA in their pocket. It was that easy.

It would appear not so.

Salary package
 

G'day folks

The salary package with HKE falls under these brackets
FO>3000 JET Basic 45,000 + MBAG 24,000 + MBAP 16,250(50hrs)
FO>1500 JET Basic 35,000 + MBAG 24,000 + MBAP 16,250(50hrs)
FO<1500 JET Basic 25,000 + MBAG 15,000 + MBAP 16,250(50hrs)
MBA- market base allowance General & productivity

I have 3500 hrs on heavy multi engine turboprop. Has anyone with only turboprop hours been able to negotiate with HKE so they don't fall in the lowest salary bracket?

Also, how much tax do aircrew normally pay in Hong Kong or does the company take care of it.

I realize rent and living expenses are expensive in HK, can anyone give current market details please.

Many thanks!

Don't make me laugh. The standard rate of tax in Hong Kong is a flat 15% of your taxable income. There's also a sliding scale of rates that favours those on lower salaries. Aircrew normally earn too much to come under the sliding scale, so their income is taxed at 15%.

Hong Kong also charges 'provisional' tax, so your first tax bill can be quite high. It will include the tax you owe on the income you've already earned, plus provisional tax for the following year's income.

The only time your company pays your tax in HK is if you do a runner, then the company has to pay the bill. Seen it done a few times over the years in HK.

Hi cessna95,
should arrive july 4 - let me know which hotel you stay?
Xavier

Hello guys,

how long did it take you to get an answer from the initial application on the net to the skype itw or the invitation to HK for the itws?

Thanks

Hi Cessna95

Just wonder what kind of experience do u have? Mind sharing with us?

Thanks :D

Anything heavier 10000kg? Like atr/dash?

Yes, they pay on time, captain top salary around 140.000-160.000 HKD/month before taxes, FO top around 100.000 - 115.000 HKD/month.
Stable roster, almost never changes. Avg hours 70-80/month. Good standards, Average medical insurance, Myid Travel (only economy).

Applied about a month ago for NTR F/O, still nothing from them, 1700ish hrs with some 400hr Midsize Jet...

Seems to me that this might weight a bit more than jet time for HKE, besides my TT maybe is a bit low.

Applied last week and got an email from Recruitment Team 5 days after application was sent for Skype English test /Interview; 2800TT/500PIC on light Jet/based in BKK for 6 years extensive flight exp in South East Asia.

I'd be happy to hear from you all that got interviewed recently for any tips/trick I should expect..
much appreciate any input,
Cheers

Hi Guys, I have also been invited for an interview with HKE in August. Any advise/info?

Hi Guys,

Would anyone like to share their experience at the interview with HKE?

skype interview
 

I would appreciate it if someone could post what to expect for skype Engish interview. Thanks in advance!

well the biggest hurdle of moving to HKG is always the accommodation cost

Expect somone testing your capacity remeber things.. It's easy, about 15min.

They ask you phrases and you need to talk what you heard with your own words.

The women who does the test speaks real fast, and she doesnt repeat the setence.

Audio quality is good, accent is good (australian probabbly).

Any info about the 1 day interview ?

Regarding the accommodation costs that Stallone mentioned... that's the fly in the ointment.

I'm assuming an HKE F/O will make about 80k per month.

A decent flat (IMHO) for a family of four will cost about 40-50k per month unless you want to make your family suffer and end up divorced.

Do the maths. It's not THAT difficult. You're disposal income will be F all, and you'll NEVER get on the property ladder here.

Hello,

Can you guys share the latest feedbacks for the interview & simcheck please?
I am going at the end of the month.

Thanks a lot

>Tazmaniac
Thanks! Is there anyway we can prepare for it or there is not much we can do about it?

If you're coming to HK expecting to live in the same sort of space as you are back home, ie 2-3000 sqft house, it's sure gonna cost more than $50000 a month....

??? Parc Palais - ???? STATELYHOME

??? King's Park Villa - ???? STATELYHOME

These example apartment cost $30000 a month, got 3 bedrooms including an ensuite, these are considered to be luxury accommodation by local standard, lots of Brits live around that area when HK was still a colony....

Jobs with gigantic housing allowance are rare in HK these days unless you are a top exec with global corporations. You just gotta be realistic about things in HK, properties here are the most expensive in the world, groceries are bloody expensive, if you are only willing to hang around the old expat areas like mid levels, happy valley, pok fu lam etc on the Island, it's gonna be tough with $80000 a month, but just a reminder, the mean household income in HK is less than $30000 a month

IMHO there's nothing you can study to do the test, if you have a icao level 4/5 you will pass without problems.

@Tazmaniac
Thanks. Looks like I have passed. Waiting for the interview date. How did your interview go?

Not that much IMO. In Hong Kong the sky's the limit, but I would say a decent, modern, fairly well-located 3-bed apartment could be had for less than 30k per month.

Obviously you're not going to get a house with 1000s of square feet on that salary, but it's Hong Kong.

In reality 80,000HKD is a very good salary in HK, and is far above the average local salary. As a point of reference... local shop workers/ waiters earn around 40HKD per hour (8000 for a 200 hour month), most new graduate jobs offer 9.5 to 12k per month. Mid-level managers earn around 20 to 25k per month.
Even for expats, the number earning over 80k will be a very small percentage of the overall total. And in no industry (except for very senior executives) does anyone offer generous expat benefits in HK anymore.

Yes, that's all good and well. But it's more about what your expectations are. Your quality of life in HK will be very restricted by your income compared with what you are used to in your home country, and trust me - the novelty of Asia will soon wear off if you're broke. And if it's OK, getting by is one thing. Saving for your future is another.

As just wait until marriage and kids come along. You aren't going to be able to live as an expat. Even the much better terms and conditions on the Dragonair 'Standard Contract' isn't enough when that happens. Pilots are leaving when the kids get to school age. You simply can't afford it - you will be going backwards.

Hong Kong is very, very expensive if you want to maintain some semblance of the life you had at home. And with a wife who is slowly going mad cooped up in a tiny apartment, you will find out why Hong Kong has a reputation as a marriage graveyard. This deal is a short term 'getting experience' job and not for the long term.

Listen to Dan. The cost of living in HK is at LEAST 3X what it is a normal country. In other words, a salary of 9K USD is the same as 3K USD in the USA. You will NOT have a good life here on the salary they are paying. You WILL end up bitter and unhappy. Be warned.

I think the big point is that you would not be able to save beyond employer contribution to MPF. I'd argue the same for 3k / month in the US, ironically I've had both salaries, 3k / month in Phoenix and 75k / month in Hong Kong. The other issue you'll have in HK is inflation, it's a real cost. In the US it seems it is less so. Example: Frozen Tyson Chicken Breasts when I arrive were around HK135 (9 years ago) and now they are around HK180.

For 25-30k / month you can get a decent (3bd, 2ba, + maids room) new build in Tung Chung. Your best bet is to meet a few agents and ask them to call you when they sell a unit from the developer to see if the new owner wants to rent it. With negotiating you should be able to take 1k off a month the asking price.

For HK Island, 25-30k will get you a shoebox of dubious quality. My budget was 30-35k. I found a perfect spot for 40k on Littlyton Road, but she would not negotiate, and it had no view. I found new & tiny with amenities in Kennedy Town, where I ultimately ended up (714 sq ft, 3bd, 2ba, buiding, pool, gym, near MTR). I also found large and really old. For 30k I found a 1400 sq ft in Sai Yin Pun, but the baths and kitchen were so old, the pipes to feed the faucets came through the window to the taps. I also found 1100 sq ft, renovated bathrooms, but very old kitchen, for 32k, in Sai Yin Pun. Wife wanted amenities so we went to Kennedy Town.

For families, unless you are receiving assistance for schooling forget it. The debenture alone will bankrupt you. We just had triplet daughters (4 weeks old now) and will likely move out of HK when they are 2. The cost of a school ranges from 8k to 14k / month, and schools seek donations on top of that. Both my wife and I work, but we would have been here 11 years by that point and it would be time to pass the torch to someone else.

80k & Single? Hell yeah--until you marry and have children.

a quick summary of HK housing and life
 

This how $10k hkd 1000sqft apartment look like .. ( a SMART CAR might be bigger)

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam...3-super-43.jpg

spend a little more..$20K.. luxury shoebox..
http://imguol.com/2013/03/14/14mar20...99_956x500.jpg

BUT of course you can save a lot more by sharing your apartment with buddy pilots..

you thought of living like this...
https://copelandcommunications.files...ng?w=490&h=327

but you end up with this.
http://www.romankrznaric.com/wp-cont...aged-man-4.jpg


Life after flight/slaving (hobby for some)...

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam...d-super-43.jpg


Newly built Hong Kong pilot's housing complex..

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam...g-super-43.jpg


just in case if you got kids... (i feels sorry for them)

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam...d-super-43.jpg