All our staff are quitting, so your email may not be replied to promptly.

If you have a license, genuine hours, and can pass a medical expect a call back within the next CoS or 2. However, if you have 4000hrs+ total time, including 1500+ multi jet, then expect a much quicker call...

Thanks for letting me know that. Much appreciated.

Bekol is taking the proverbial. Sadly he’s right.

I mistakenly read DFO interview. Not sure why I did that.

History Repeats
 

We've gone from A-Scale, to B-scale, then C and so on, to where we are today. Im not having a go at the guys who accepted their conditions, but what is on offer is trending in one direction only. Once the target hours hits 70-80, that'll be it. Over the course of 12 months, no chance to fly additional hours without exceeding the annual limit, so it will just be base salary + per diems for the rest of your CX career

Quote:

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.........feel like a spoon feeding? If so you'll be one of the ones that can't hack training.......

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and
Seems a bit harsh. A good pilot thinks ahead, plans and mitigates risk, so I am not sure if you can really criticise a pilot for employing the same methodology to try to secure a job offer.

I would say it's called being prepared.

The one time I stupidly did not prepare for a pilot interview, relying instead on knowing that I had the skills and experience; I did not do so well and surprise surprise, did not get a job offer. Some years later, when I tried the same airline again, I passed - but I made sure that I had prepared that time.

This OP is probably not asking for the actual answers, but it is useful to know if there will be tech questions or : "tell us about a time when......" or "which do you prefer: guns or poetry?".

I also believe it is better to prepare for an interview, as the old adage - Fail to prepare, Prepare to fail is so true in these situations. Preparing for an interview also shows you are resourceful and are prepared to spend a little time to ensure that you succeed at a given task, which will show that would likely be better placed to succeed at a type rating as your prepared to go the extra mile to fully understand something.

It was only the RAF that informed me, years later in "preparing" for a side career in selection, that candidates who were "unprepared" for the selection tests and succeeded , were later proved to be a safer bet for success in training.

My third attempt for RAF selection saw me "prepare" by practicing on Brighton pier for the co-ordination tests. For mechanics I read "how Cars Work". A C Comode's "Flight without formulae" was a delight. Quick chat about the Leadership tests with a neighbour up the road (retired RAF Group Captain) where he informed me to just make sure I was noticed. "Get out in front in every group discussion and exercise" were words ringing in my ears as I swung on the end of a rope barking out orders all over the place to everyone. I was offered a place at RAF Cranwell.

It is one thing to "prepare" and another to become so informed as to whizz through selection tests because you are "practiced" and "rehearsed"., thus giving the Selection Board a likely false impression, risking their training investment.

For intense and competitive selection , it helps if you know someone.

When I was on B707s in late 70s with KAC I was told way to get job with CX was just to turn but I never bothered.

Many years later as a B767 Captain I applied to ASL as DEC but either the ginger haired Kiwi did not like me or Bells ringing from ECG machine I was unsuccessful which was a blessing in some respects as DEC on A340 with SIA turned better for my last 6 years before retirement.

Hi Gordo. Regards to Julie

Regards indeed Sir. For the CX thread, looks like you missed nothing and your ASL experience shows no consideration of your ability or value. And, CX are masters at using the medical dept to reject where others would issue you a Class one., as SIA did.

I did turn up for my first attempt with CX and pretended I played Badminton and liked boats.. I didn't go as far as a DanAir bod who actually found out where the CP lived and knocked on his door. He was sent away with a flea in his ear and long lecture about a man's home being his castle etc !

The only Lodge I was a member of was the UK Travel Lodge frequent stayer club but the CX Board were not impressed . Like you, saved. Had a glorious career elsewhere.

If you are man you can make local girlfriend very very easily

For someone who failed (on, it would appear, several occasions, despite sitting on selection boards for other carriers and utilising your very own preparation methods) to get in to CX or that other excrescence ASL ( where the sole provisos were a willingness to screw over another pilots’ seniority, and a pulse) you do seem to enjoy lurking on the FH forum Gordo ? Illustrious career or not.

Aaaaah, Glob, ooops, I mean Menelaus or whatever pseudonym, true to character, you choose to hide behind; "Sole provisos" shows distinct inability to recognise commerce.

I was wondering why you were not lining up for personal attack on all my posts for some time now. Popped on the green tinted raybands again have we.?

I "lurk"" around FH for many reasons but, in part, for this sort of hand-bag swing from someone with very limited and tainted vision who wouldn't even get past the basic form-filling stage of any selection board I served on. Still, quite entertaining.

ASL was an excellent commercial idea and was, in early stage, to operate quite separately although, of course, not quite independently from CX mainline. For many "Commercial" pilots, a backdoor into mainline might have appeared. It did, and they wound up flying CX mainline.

Hard, tough playing field out in the real world of commercial flying. Shame you have not wised up.

Haven’t worn ‘Raybands’ green tinted or otherwise in years thank you. And the reason that I haven’t commented on some of your posts is that a) they were generally too riddled with narcissism and b) I couldn’t be arsed.
Do some research on ASL when you get off the sun lounger. That particular experiment cost CX millions, in lost good will and general antipathy. As a commercial experiment, it certainly failed the acid test.
Maybe pop down to your local library with your bus pass and rip a few pages out of a few books ? You’re good at that.
You take care now.

Manyflaws; Thanks. Oh dear though, still croaking away, hand-bags at dawn. and confirmation of one of the reasons I still "lurk" about FH.

I try to advise on many posts on different threads and continue by suggesting you let the page-ripping go. Indeed, best to let go of all past events that clearly have left you very riled, agitated and confused. Dangerous underlying conditions in recent years.

For this CX thread, good luck to all who seek entry into the once mighty CX. Not the same now and might be easier. Remember, as a "Commercial " pilot, forget what's painted on the side of an aeroplane. Play the hardball game, stay street wise and you will come out on top...........................much to the irritation and envy of many, clearly............................

Ray bans are awesome. I was always surprised at the negative feeling in this company towards them. Must be some leftover from the movie top-gun or something.
Just wear what you like, who gives a hoot.

Any recommendations for the final assessment in Hong Kong? Or does anyone know what it's about?

Hi! What are the assessment process for DEFO now in CX? Does it have TKE exam if you are already experience? And what are the other process aside from Sim Eval and Medical? Thanks

Interview is very straight forward. No tricks.

Simulator is where they get you. Only about 20% pass rate currently. They really focus on manual flying the 777 no matter what rating you have.

Medical is tougher than the standard government requirements. Anything that comes up they will ask you for reports or refer you to a specialist.

20% seems really tough lol

Imagine that! Actually expecting pilot applicants to be able to fly an aircraft to a certain standard. Outrageous!

I have a few mates in Cathay training, and the 20% pass rate for the sim is confirmed.

The ability/experience level of the applicants for the current package is abysmal, and it's no wonder. All they can attract now are misfits and desperados, or pilots from countries with highly questionable logbooks and licences.

The trainers/checkers are quite rightly putting their foot down, and demanding the same standards as Cathay used to have.

They would rather see Cathay go down the swanny, which is where it's headed, than be directly or indirectly responsible for a hull loss, which is where it's also headed.

Karma is a biatch.

Do they reply in the given time frame (I was said expect an update after 2-3 weeks) after sending them the training documents??

Yes, they told me in 2 weeks and in two weeks they responded to me

same here. Assessment for October

FYI…

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/h...-b1108017.html

I just got invited for the DEFO interview at Cathay as well. I am currently an FO for a major airline in Canada and have a stay at home wife and a few kids. Based on the responses it seems that it will be hard to afford living in Hong Kong with a family as a Cathay FO. Does anyone have experience moving with family for the FO job? Thanks!

Astonishing one in 5 can pass a B777 screening.
Have they sold the Classic 747 sims?

Fire it up and let them prove their mettle on a real airplane!

Basically if you have a wife and kids, wife not working, paying for expat schooling - I think you'll be on struggle street; you'll never get on the HK housing ladder first of all; just look at rental costs for a modest 3 bedder in Tung Chung it'll easily set you back 30k HKD pm, so what's the whole point in coming to HK as an expat? You can't afford to buy an apartment in HK (this will be your retirement nest egg) and when you head back to Canada when you retire you won't have a house there neither. Just imagine that, worked your whole life till 65 and nothing to show for it, welcome to the new reality of living on COS18.

What 3 bedroom in TC are you referring too? It must be the 3 bed/one bath. As the H/A apartments are still valued at about $10M. Repayments will still set you back about $35000 per month.

The pension is woefully low. To the point that if one retires in Hong Kong, 10 years of pension money will last them 2 years at best.

The property you buy in HK, you’ll sell when you leave and buy a house in your home country when you retire, that’s how it’ll have to work if you are to come to HK. Unless this Canadian DEFO rents in HK for life and mortgages a place in Canada simultaneously.

FYI almost all property in HK is leasehold, all the leases expire in 2047. Then 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the honest reply. Guess I will need to cross Cathay off the list. Are Middle East airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, etc.) any better for expats with families? Canada is getting very expensive and pilots (especially FOs) make poverty wages here.

Hey folks, what can I expect at the interview, first stage?

some questions about stuff

I never stated it’s a get rich quick. I know how investing works. But when the funds available in the provident fund are junk. My timeline was, 10 years in provident fund from CX will give you about $100K-$150 HKD per year, so that’s about at best $1.5M, that’s without investing, let’s assume an 80% return over the 10 years, that leaves you shy of $3 mill. Like I said, at best 2 years living in Hong Kong. Maybe 3 years

Also the property I stated is enough of a decent size (by Hong Kong standards), in the cheapest complex in the cheapest suburb

The biggest thing with CX is the "IF's" you might be able to make it work IF the flying increases as they try to get the flying schedule back to 2019 levels IF they don't change the min hours which determines how much $$$ you make IF they don't decide to change anything else which is ALL at their discretion as its policy not a CBA.
You are obviously an FO at with WS or AC, there have been lots of Canadian pilots at CX going in the exact opposite direction to what you are looking at, Captain and FO's (myself included). However apply go have a look at HK and make your own mind up, just remember at WS or AC you have a Union with a CBA written in stone that if gets messed with you file a grievance with an arbitrator in HK you have none of that its all at the company's whim, so what you sign up for you may lose a month later.
And if you think Canada is expensive go have a walk around a HK grocery store and look for the stuff your kids eat.
Good luck to you.

You are not invested with 1.5 over 10 years, it slowly builts up over time. So 80% of 1.5 M is very optimistic, more like half of that, if you are lucky.

DDDO got it right, the problem is the uncertainty. Tough call to move without knowing what to expect financially.

There are plenty of returning captains to cx who previously left for whatever reason .
What’s their motivation if its so bad, and the salary is so poor?

I hear the current cx overtime can push up the monthly salary of senior captains to over $250hk per month? Ok , you work for it , just saying it’s achievable.

Don't just base your life on the basic salary. Its a package, and overtime forms a large part (sometimes. !)

Jesus, ok so over 400 CN left and around 30 have come back. And that sounds like plenty returning???????

I don't have the very latest Mercer cost of living index in front of me but they specialise in telling companies how much tp pay someone living in one country when they move them to another as an expat. And they charge a lot for it.
Last time I looked at the 2019 Index, based on a couple with two kids, Hong Kong was 1.61 times as expensive as Vancouver or Toronto to live. I'm not talking moving from Richmond or Burlington to eat cup noodles in 700 sq ft !!!!!hole on Cheung Sha Island, I'm talking having the same equivalent lifestyle. The cost of living in Hong Kong is far greater than the tax difference between Canada and Hong Kong or Australia and Hong Kong. Guys just see the Net salary, and have no idea at all about the actual cost of living.
Having said that, it amazes me how many out there are riding the bus everywhere, feeding their family the cup noodles, missing out on extended family and friends back home, and telling themselves the place and package is still the greatest. The delusion is remarkable. They can't bear the thought that they signed up for CX all those years ago, the package has drastically changed, and they've stuck their head in the sand as the solution. And seniority lists make the decision absolute, you can't slot into a 330 CN job at QF or a 787 CN job at AC and all your mates who decided to stay at their legacy carriers rather than take that CX job offer have in hindsight, in 2023, made the better decision.
Every time I'm in an aircrew immigration queue anywhere, every other airline pities us, offers condolences and feels sorry for us for what our package has become.