Some food for thought...
 

Hello to all !

Being one of my first posts in here ( I guess a bit of a veteran in some other forums :) ) , I wish to ask the very qualified and intellectual fellow colleagues some questions which have recently arisen during a conversation or two :

1) I have heard that the A340 has vortex generators on its engine nacelles - Is this true, and why are they in place ?

2) Is there a specific reason why the A340 has only double slotted fowler flaps whereas the 747-400 has triple slotted fowlers ? My initial reasoning on this is that due to the 747 having a wing sweep angle of 37.5 deg, in comparison to 30 deg sweep angle on the Airbus fleet, then this would account for the fact that with more sweep, a higher angle of incidence (angle of attack) is required to achieve the same given amount of lift as per a straight wing - or in this case the A340 with less sweep angle ? On this note, I do undestand that the slotted sections on these HLD are primarily in place to re-energise the Boundary Layer airflow over the trailing edge section of the wing, thus reducing drag ; increasing stall speeds, allowing the aircraft to approach at a lower speed on approach...etc..etc...

Your help in these areas would be much appreciated...

PS : I do have an upcoming interview in Hong Kong and would also appreciate any further advice as to the whole process, such as typical questions being asked and the process itself.

Once again, many thanks in advance,

A keen, future CX employee

Your knowledge of aerodynamics appears fearsome.

Your ability to operate in typhoon conditions will be of more use to you when you join Cathay.

GRUNTFUTTOCK

His fearsome knowledge will get him the job...his ability to operate in typhoon conditions will keep him alive. Give him a break, he's obviously just trying to gather up some info to better his chances. :)

#1, yes there are. I think it is something like a 2% fuel penalty if they are not there. They are only about 6 inches high, and 12 inches long.

#2, Your answer sounds reasonable enough.

www.aviationinterviews.com
 

This is how I prepared and did well on the interview:
-How to Prepeare for Your CX Interview by CA's X, Y and Z.
-Flying the Big Jets by CA Davies.
-Illustrated Book of Aerodynamics by Skip Smith.
-Study of tropical WX patterns and particulars about typhoons, windshear, vulcanic ash and depressions.
-If you are American, study ICAO holdings, Metar and other peculiarities and differences.
-Knowledge of current airplane.
-Some knowledge of the 744 (if applying for NA cargo)

Good luck!

the 744 has a higher mtow than the 340. it follows too that it has a higher mlw. at the same thrust setting, the heavier aircraft will have to fly at a higher aoa to generate the same lift. furthermore, the MAXcl should be increased to enable the aircraft to fly at slower approach speeds, and MAXcl is a function of aoa. the higher the aoa, the greater the need to energize the boundary layer, to create turbulent flow and thus delay separation within the boundary layer.

Thank you all for your replies ! They proved very helpful and in some cases rather amusing..... :D

In terms of preparation for the CX Final Interview things I have researched/used as reference/study material include :

* Handling The Big jets
* Captain's XYZ ( very useful source of information)
* Mechanics of Flight (university reference book)
* The Jet Engine (Rolls Royce)
* Aerodynamics for Naval Aviators ( another uni reference source)
* ATPL Theory notes (once again, thanks Nathan - great course)
* Consultation with friends in CX and those recently interviewed
*Hours of Research online ( CX website, Boeing, Airbus, Rolls
Royce, General Electric...etc...etc..etc...)
* Heaps of Info online about Hong Kong in general, associated weather phenomena, climate etc..etc..etc...

... then finally accessing all the above info in terms of roughly 120 A4 sheets of paper in summarised form and learning it... Oh, plus about 7hrs of study per day on the above and many other things over a period of around 4-5 weeks....

Sincerely hope it all pays off. Cathay Pacific is a FANTASTIC company from what I have heard and seen. Maybe there is enough room in the 'ranks' for yet another passionate and keen future CX hopeful... time will tell....

In the meantime, best wishes to all and thanks again for your replies above.

Good luck Hottie. Like your attitude.

Short, do you know the difference between a brown-noser and a !!!!!-head?


This was just a general question wasn't it Cpt.? You were not thinking of anyone in particular I trust and thereby making a personal attack?

BlueEagle - Moderator

half-full I would accept your explanation for identical airfoils, but we are not talking about the same wing. The A340 has a far more efficient airfoil than the 744 and thus triple slotted not required.

Just my understanding. Gospel by no means.

the messiah...your point is well-taken.

Brown Noser
 

Captain Underpants

The difference between A brown-noser and a a** kisser is purely depth perception. I was successful in my final interview but turned down the position. I had 3 friends that where part of the 49's.:

Cpt underpants,
Your mind is in 1 meter radius:
Flight instr. panel,underpants,ass.
Do you read something at all?

Ooh ouch, my desperately sensitive constitution is shattered beyond repair. Lol. By the by Cpt, it's pretty obvious why you are still in elementary school. What happened moderator? I thought personal attacks were verboten?

*

This moderator still here Shortly, this thread is about two clicks away from closure as it has gone completely off topic.

Yes personal attacks are definitely not encouraged, so please desist, ALL of you? Thanks.

As you can see for yourselves, if threads were closed immediately there was any kind of a personal attack then over half the threads on this forum would already be closed!:)

Try to jump on the very unpleasant ones straight away and still give a bit of rope where possible.

BlueEagle - Moderator.

What an ignorant lot. I used to reply to you chaps but I'm getting sick and tired with your wannabe stupidity.

Is there any actual line pilot having passed perf A out there?

ATPL plus Perf A or similar might answer your questions. The stupid answers just stun me.

By the way, you would not enjoy sitting next to me at this time regardless of you limited knowledge.

100% AOA. (and 49/51ers)

Take note all you potential replacement workers.... I will do my best to limit your career.... in CX.

Hate me as much as you like, I have 51 mates waiting to get their jobs back! Take note of my written word.
:mad:

You guys obvioulsy have way too much time on your hands. To come up with such QUALITY threats and tactics.
Thrust: I do believe (actually FACT) that 51 of your AOA mates did the replacing by upgrading into those positions, so I guess you will have to come up with a way to make their life HELL.
If you do not have the balls to stand the line, then do not make such horrible threats to people who can actually stand to help for your cause. A united pilot group is more effective than a divided one. But I guess making threats in such a cowardly manner, where no one thruly knows who you are is the only way for you to get your point across without facing the firing line.
You call replacement workers spinless, well take a hard long look in the mirror, and re-evaluate. Your replacement workers are those who are representing your cause.
How on the hell did CX hire such a vindictive person in the first place.....
:confused: :confused: i thought there was personality and psyc testing?????
Guys stick with the topic , it was quite good till now.

As these pages are open to the general public, I am free to comment. I am not CX staff.

I read the last post by Thrust with absolute horror and dismay.

Thrust, I trust my (and my family’s) very being in your hand’s when I place myself on a seat on the aircraft you are in command of. If I were aware in advance of whom you are and which flight you were operating, I would most definitely avoid traveling that day.

The blind vitriol and hate you so candidly display is indeed a shock to my system particularly when it encroaches into the flight deck as you say it does.

You may respond that as a pax/customer, I am not entitled to know of, or comment on, the internal issues of CX personnel however the status quo within your organisation is not secret or confined to this forum. There has been correspondence in the SCMP between public and your AOA General Secretary – it is widely known in HK about these issues. Moreover, I am a very frequent traveller with CX and have been for many moons for both business and (few!) leisure trips.

It is often said by flight crew that pax know nothing. About operating an aircraft, probably. About where to place ourselves in terms of safety, no. I will say though, that I am not unfamiliar with your sims.

Thrust, I find it difficult to comprehend how you can dedicate your internal resources to operating an aircraft when you are carrying so much psychological baggage with you. Do you realise what you are doing with the lives of so many people relying on you?

I would venture to request that you need to apply yourself fully to operating the aircraft with 100 percent concentration and not have your attention diverted by your hatred of colleagues, whether justified or not. As your charge, I am entitled to be protected (as far as possible) from calamity – would you be able to handle it?

Please do not tell me that how you feel is the responsibility of Management. You are responsible for how you deal with your emotions, nobody else.

We are all, voluntary or involuntary, ambassadors and sales(wo)men for our employers by being before customers. It is really just as well for you I believe, that CX Management do not know who “Thrust” is.

Now then, do I continue with a booked short break in Cebu in a couple of weeks time not only with my wife and two children but with my elderly parents too? Your call.

HA

Handy Andy

that would be asking too much,
you may want to pass on your thoughts onto the AOA directly and maybe then they finally see that this disgraceful behavour by there members is reaching the public. I too would not want to be a pax when he is in command.
God only knows what kind of incident can occur when one is in that frame of mind:(

Handy Andy

Beautifully said.

I think you can safely go to Cebu. Thrust and his cohorts are slipping well into the minority and without any power the rhetoric is about all they have left.

He is probably not a Captain; I would like to think by the time a Command has come around a more mature attitude would have surfaced.

The issue of the 49er's is dead and buried. Sad but true and it is about time the Thrusts accepted the fact.

FB

Somebody please tell me that this kind of behaviour really does not occur !!!!

It does occur and I am getting sick of it. I am out of here on the first job that comes up. My family doesn't travel on CX jets, Thrust isn't alone, there's lots of pissed-off guys here.

it is unbelievable that such intelligent people cannot see what all of this is going to result to. If they are so against company policy why join up in the first place. I am not trying to say that CX's behaviour isnt dispickable, but logic would dictate that if we all stick together as one, more will be accomplished and quickly

cadence
come on over to the US, plenty of jobs here

Just stirring the pot.

I guess the CX pilots union and the 100,000+ ALPA pilots that condem the union bust going on in CX are wrong.

CX flightdecks are as professional as any in world aviation. I've sat next to a few replacement workers and quite frankly it is a distraction.

I wouldn't pee on one if he was on fire and I expect that he wouldn't do the same for me. He showed his contempt for his "fellow" CX pilots by taking a job to replace wrongfully dismissed crew. A union bust is a union bust.

I haven't met a replacement worker yet that didn't leave a job to come to CX. He made his choice with the complete knowledge of what he was doing. As far as I'm concerned they can all rot in hell.

Those of you that talk about this issue from the outside just don't understand what is going on. For just one minute stop and think about how your family would feel if it was you that was sacked. What support would you want from your mates? Those that come to CX now are pretty low in my book. Many excellent pilots are waiting in the wings to take slots when this is sorted out.

The first of our courtcases in both HK and overseas are about to be presented. Pressure is about to mount and it will start to look bad for the company. Hopefully this will be the precursor to talks with management. CX have expressed a desire to return to the mainland and our current load factors are in the 80+% range. Time to expand and it won't happen without the pilots on side.

Please just wait you wannabe's.

Now, about those vortex generators..

Thrust

That was much better. Mate we all well understand the position that CX has put many people, and ofcourse yes, it is only human to feel angry and frustrated//// been there done that!!!
My point to you guys is that within your anger you are not seeing that CX is winning because all of you guys at heads with eachother. Pilot v pilot.

Well I guess CX is getting exactly what they want

EK is hiring I believe....but some of the CX guys would have a very hard time fitting in with their attitude, and of course would have to start at the low end of the pay scale.
Still, leaves more room for those that want to join at CX.
CX management would seem to be pleased if they left...before they are sacked, that is....:rolleyes:

The numbers don't support the intent of sad old Thrusts comments. There certainly is the issue of the 49ers to resolve, although CX management probably think it is just about settled already. If Thrust were to follow through on his childish threats, well he would be identified easily and early for the non-professional that that would make him. The result for him is obvious. The majority of CX aircrew are not unhappy (do some number crunching before you slag off at this). Sure there are issues to be resolved and they will be in due course. The new joiners need not fear anything. As I have stated before, in my opinion it is only a matter of time before they are welcomed into the fold of the AOA or else the AOA fails. The million dollar question is how do we get back to the negotiating table? The company have stated that they will not negotiate with the current leadership or while union action continues. I don't agree with that position but it's their bat and ball. It was loyal of the AOA, and probably myopic, to re-elect ND and co. But the facts show that AOA numbers are falling steadily and the costs for the AOA must be remaining high. They must surely have most to gain by making whatever concessions (more) are necessary to get back to discussion. I don't mean toss away the 49ers but surely there is absolutely no hope for them in light of the current situation.

It is time for some leadership changes or nothing is going to change. Hell take a look at delta - alpa here in the us... being sued by there own members. what does that tell you guys about the way in which the AOA and these unions handle situation

I am all FOR a union, but this is getting ridiculous

Mr. Thrust

It is a shame you have been unable to allay my fears about traveling with CX. I am also unsure of whether you mean I or you are stirring the pot. It matters not.

As a matter of fact, I believe that the whole episode surrounding the termination of employment of your colleagues was very sad. I empathise with the people who lost their jobs, I really do – I am certain they are excellent airmen and were possibly scapegoats. Which “side” is right and which is wrong is not my business to comment on but where I trust my life and that of my family is my business. This is not meant to portray melodrama as you may see coming out of EastEnders, trust me. I am being 100% true to myself by communicating with you guys.

Please believe me, I thought very seriously about posting on this forum. I have been tempted in the past as this issue has been at the back of my mind when flying but after reading your thoughts today, I became very alarmed.

Last week, I spent 36 hours on a return trip to JFK – Monday out of HKG and Wednesday night back from JFK. Admittedly, 8 or so of those hours were with a YVR-based crew and I am not sure of their situation however the potential for some situation to develop for the balance of over 24 hours in the air is real. Maybe we had a settled and calm FD on those two sectors or maybe we were just fortunate, I don’t know. However please see it from the other side of the door too.

To an extent, you are right that those of us on the outside do not understand what is going on, but impressions are formed by what is read in the media etc. or indeed more accurately on this site. Yes, I hear you say, the forum should be for pilots only, but that doesn’t solve the problem. Sometimes it takes a person removed from the core of a situation to put over a perspective that hadn’t been previously seen. Have you ever considered during your AOA meetings/get-togethers how your actions (official or not) would affect the pax and crew behind the FD door. Probably not.

It is not possible to compare grievances between colleagues within an office environment to that of a flight deck. There is just too much at stake where you guys work.

I always thought that the reason for introducing the much-mentioned CRM to the flight deck was to compound and highlight the necessities of teamwork. That clearly is failing in its basic form when you are on duty with one of the “replacement workers”. How would an emergency or situation be handled between you if you are potentially not communicating or going in different directions so to speak. You admit yourself [the replacement workers] are a distraction.

I am certainly not stirring any pot – just voicing concerns that I now have about flying with Cathay Pacific. Up until today, I have not had any negative gut instincts about trusting the FD crew but today I have. I am very upset about it.

I have not seen many, if any, posts on this forum from your customer’s point of view – maybe because the threat to their safety has not occurred to them, or maybe they have held back as I have done until now. You may well be thinking “why does this guy not s$d off our forum”, however if you are so thinking, it should confirm to you that maybe I have a point but from an entirely different perspective than that of you and some of your colleagues.

An incident on one of your flights which was put down to friction between pilots on the FD would decimate your cause and probably your Company. From my point of view and bearing in mind what I perceive to be the current feelings in the cockpit, there is an accident waiting to happen.

Although it looks a long way off, I truly hope you can all sort it out before, but in the meantime, I have to decide what is safe for me and my family.

Best wishes to you all
HA

Dear HA

I had vowed never to post on this bulletin board again but your comments have raised questions and I would appreciate an explanation from you.

First may I state I have little empathy with the more extreme characters who post on this forum from either side of the dispute. You should note that the views of Shorty are just as extreme as those who rant and rave from the opposite end of the spectrum.

My curiosity has been raised because your postings are rather surreal. You seem to be suggesting that you may be developing a fear of flying with CX because of poor labour relations between cockpit crew and management. Whilst it is evident that most pilots are far from happy with the current direction being taken by management it is far from evident how this could impact on safety. The pilots of Cathay Pacific are among the most capable and professional in the world and this does not change because an industrial dispute is in progress.

It is curious that you mention the pilots on your YVR JFK sectors were Vancouver based and those on the other two sectors were not. How can you possibly know where any CX crew are based unless you know them personally? Are you sure you are not one of those posters who live at the end of the spectrum? Perhaps this is your attempt to use the "safety" weapon which the AOA is accused of keeping in their armoury of industrial weapons.

I cannot believe that an intelligent member of the travelling public would bother to write such drivel on a pilots bulletin board. Much less can I believe that you fear flying with such an outstanding airline.

You are not a believable character in my view sir.

Mole,

I think HA's point is that he is concerned not by the friction between cockpit crew and management, but by the fact that Thrust's initial post implied (or indeed, threatened) that other pilots of differing opinions "would not enjoy sitting next to me at this time regardless of you limited knowledge".

I am in the same position as HA - a frequent customer (MP Diamond) of CX - and I have to say I share his concern. Up to now I had hoped that whatever the differences of opinions between the cockpit crew they would not let them impinge on their professionalism while in the cockpit. It seems clear from Thrust's post that some at least are unable or unwilling to do this. As a passenger I am worried that this may have some impact on the safety of my flight. As HA says, if even a minor incident is reported by the press as having been caused or exacerbated by poor relations in the cockpit then CX's business is going to take a big dive, to the detriment of all of you.

First the cheesecake, now the mole...

This is really getting good.

Who from the glass towers will be next...?

BTW Mole, some Commanders actually tell their pax where they are based in the "welcome aboard" announcement. Remember the aeroplane? That's where it all happens...

Hello Mole

In a similar position to christep, I am a paying customer of CX. Nothing more, nothing less.

It is not difficult to deduce that there is a crew change at YVR. Whilst I was talking to the FA at YVR during the security sweep (I was commenting to him the fact we could not deplane for a while there, another issue), he casually mentioned he was YVR based and we chatted about how often he got home to HK. Quite simple and friendly.

I believe I am safe in assuming that the FD crew is similarly based (particularly with the accents).

I have no ulterior motives behind my posts.

I have no fear of flying because of the poor labour relations between cockpit crew and management. As christep mentioned, the friction between you and Management is not the worry. The friction between you guys in the cockpit is. I am also sure that individually, the pilots at Cathay are among the most capable and professional in the flying world however when one sees a post from a professional pilot that is both threatening to his colleagues and demonstrates a desire to see him off the FD, it does make one wonder how a person could work under such a mindset.

Whether I am believable or not to you is not my concern. My only point is that judging by Thrust’s post, two people in mental conflict in a restricted space cannot be conducive to a happy and effective working environment.

Best!
HA

HA, Christrep etc,

As a CX pilot and having flown with mixed crews (AOA, management, non-union, scabs from previous airlines eg:QNZ and our current 'replacement workers) I can honestly tell you that from planning to touch-down the FD is entirely on the same song sheet. We may not play together.... but with 1700 pilots/personalities youre never going to be bosom buddies with all anyway. Its a shame, I agree.

Our aim is to get YOU safely and efficiently from A-to-B. Any angst, perceived or otherwise is far out weighed. Please dont not worry. (But I understand your concerns)

That said the AOA has played up this issue in an effort to get public support and Management have likewise used this to portray the AOA as unprofessional and unsupportive of the travelling public. Its all smoke screens and mirrors.

Its easy to be a tough guy on an anonymous forum (or talk the big talk at your local with your AOA [or management] buddies)... but, in my experience, I havent seen it effect FD ops.

Thrust

You have my sincere sympathy, to be wasting so much energy on maintaining your bitterness. You believe that the new joiners hold you in the same contempt you have for them - I can only speak for a couple, but it just ain't so. They just want to do their job and go home at night. Too bad for you if you need to sit there for 14 hours seething - the "replacement worker" sitting next to you is just blithely going about their job.

As far as your threats, you're only making things worse for everyone. CX management has indicated they'll deal harshly with anyone behaving as unprofessionally as you've described. Hell they can't afford NOT to, for the reasons outlined by HandyAndy! Tell me how that helps the AOA's cause?

Fight your real enemies.

*

Yes of course I could do that nudger, but that would not help. Why do christep and I remain loyal to Cathay? - because we like flying with Cathay, we like the crew (we are not just a seat number and inconvenience to many) and service and a host of other things. I am sure Cathay and its staff like our patronage.

My reason for posting at all was to offer a view from the other side and how it actually looks and "feels" from my perspective.

It does matter to a lot of us what happens here.

Take care,
HA

*

Even "Blind Freddie" can see an impact on Flight Safety
 

The poor labour relations between cockpit crew and management obviously has a detrimental effect on the safety of Flight Operations at Cathay Pacific. We are only arguing over the magnitude. One might question the wisdom or motives of those who say otherwise.

Unfortunately Cathay Pacific management do not have the vision of Blind Freddie.

The next thing that the spin doctors who will be telling us is that that it actually improves safety.