Hong Kong Express
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Sorry guys, but HongKong Express is living up to it'd sad reputation. Lots of noise, but little action. I just hope nobody spent too much of their hard earned money on this fruitless exercise
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Hi Badapple,
Not sure what you mean.
Interviews in Melbourne last week.
Nice people - made me feel very comfortable - open communication about the company - great interview - a fair sim ride (could always have done better of course) - they even gave us an envelope with a hundred bucks for making the effort to come and see them.
I was impressed with the attitude, the fact that they don't expect a type rating and don't bond.
TP101
Not sure what you mean.
Interviews in Melbourne last week.
Nice people - made me feel very comfortable - open communication about the company - great interview - a fair sim ride (could always have done better of course) - they even gave us an envelope with a hundred bucks for making the effort to come and see them.
I was impressed with the attitude, the fact that they don't expect a type rating and don't bond.
TP101
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Bad Apple,
Like turboprop I don’t agree with you. All the contact I have had with HKE has been great, I haven’t spent any money of my own (except for buying a plane ticket to travel to interview, just like all other airlines) They are paying for our endorsements, which is a substantial amount of money. They are paying for tickets to Hong Kong. The conditions aren’t those you get at CX or KA but they have been up front in telling everyone so. You have an agreement to return service for 3 years. this is not unreasonable with respect to Australian operators, you would expect the same even to fly a regional turbo prop i.e. REX 2 yrs (and really if you want to leave pay the value of the training, this would create a situation the same as paying for your own type rating i.e. free to leave).
Most of us are now finalizing employment contracts and visas, and in general the contract has been accepted by all future drivers. Unfortunately like your post there have been a few negative posts re: Heli Hong Kong, but with the authors not saying "why" they think the company "sucks" it is unlikely the guys that have had the nod will reconsider the employment agreement.
I also emphasise that HKE has the support of other individuals of excellent reputation and as such I am encouraged to pursue the dream.
So if you have something to tell us please do! All involved would appreciate the information.
Like turboprop I don’t agree with you. All the contact I have had with HKE has been great, I haven’t spent any money of my own (except for buying a plane ticket to travel to interview, just like all other airlines) They are paying for our endorsements, which is a substantial amount of money. They are paying for tickets to Hong Kong. The conditions aren’t those you get at CX or KA but they have been up front in telling everyone so. You have an agreement to return service for 3 years. this is not unreasonable with respect to Australian operators, you would expect the same even to fly a regional turbo prop i.e. REX 2 yrs (and really if you want to leave pay the value of the training, this would create a situation the same as paying for your own type rating i.e. free to leave).
Most of us are now finalizing employment contracts and visas, and in general the contract has been accepted by all future drivers. Unfortunately like your post there have been a few negative posts re: Heli Hong Kong, but with the authors not saying "why" they think the company "sucks" it is unlikely the guys that have had the nod will reconsider the employment agreement.
I also emphasise that HKE has the support of other individuals of excellent reputation and as such I am encouraged to pursue the dream.
So if you have something to tell us please do! All involved would appreciate the information.
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I would hardly liken some of what's been said as "unfair criticism". As has been previously pointed out, some of the information posted comes from direct contact with staff currently working for the helicopter side of things. What would be unfair is to arbitrarily discount the opinions of those who actually work for these people right now.
If anything, I would caution those of you who so quickly dismiss what others have said, just because it does not match your own feelings of optimism. Like it or not, those of you who aspire to join this lot know nothing of how things actually work there, beyond what you've been told under carefully controlled circumstances.
Only time will tell if this new operation works out, but it would be a pity if later some of the posters on this forum had the opportunity to say "I told you so".
If anything, I would caution those of you who so quickly dismiss what others have said, just because it does not match your own feelings of optimism. Like it or not, those of you who aspire to join this lot know nothing of how things actually work there, beyond what you've been told under carefully controlled circumstances.
Only time will tell if this new operation works out, but it would be a pity if later some of the posters on this forum had the opportunity to say "I told you so".
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Omnipotent,
It would be a lot easier to take some of this critisism on board if the posters would back up their accusations with some facts and evidence, rather than just dropping some negative comments without backing them up.
It is very easy to say 'listen carefully' and 'ask questions', without letting on what to listen for and which questions to ask.
And reading badapple's post, I would be more inclined to think that he either failed the interview or missed out on the interview altogether.
Ofcourse if he cares to elaborate a bit more, maybe that could possible change how I think of him.
So either give some solid information, or don't bother posting at all.
Cheers!
It would be a lot easier to take some of this critisism on board if the posters would back up their accusations with some facts and evidence, rather than just dropping some negative comments without backing them up.
It is very easy to say 'listen carefully' and 'ask questions', without letting on what to listen for and which questions to ask.
And reading badapple's post, I would be more inclined to think that he either failed the interview or missed out on the interview altogether.
Ofcourse if he cares to elaborate a bit more, maybe that could possible change how I think of him.
So either give some solid information, or don't bother posting at all.
Cheers!
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Wait and see
Very interesting point about bonding....
Recently, pilots have been required to sign bonds for recurrent sim training in the helicopter. Having been working with the company for a couple of years and attended sim training in the past without a bond, I was a little dissapointed to be subjected to this change of policy
But you know what really stunned me........I knew nothing about this bond until I was handed a bond agreement to sign AFTER I RETURNED FROM TRAINING. No prior notice given.
I say again.....be very careful.
Prove me wrong guys.......please...... and restore my faith in our company.
Recently, pilots have been required to sign bonds for recurrent sim training in the helicopter. Having been working with the company for a couple of years and attended sim training in the past without a bond, I was a little dissapointed to be subjected to this change of policy
But you know what really stunned me........I knew nothing about this bond until I was handed a bond agreement to sign AFTER I RETURNED FROM TRAINING. No prior notice given.
I say again.....be very careful.
Prove me wrong guys.......please...... and restore my faith in our company.
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Ask about where you'll really be living, Hong Kong or Macau. You will ask this because you've heard there are sufficient difficulties being experienced with the HK CAD that the first two 170's are most likely going to be registered in Macau. Then, should you actually find yourself in Macau, ask why your promised salary is being "adjusted" due to "market conditions" in Macau.
Should you be a first officer, ask how much you will have to pay when you are told you are about to be provided with "upgrade" training for a command.
Ask if you might be shown a published pay scale prior to signing on the dotted line.
Ask to be provided with a written document spelling out how the matter of seniority and promotion will be handled.
Ask about staff/family travel benefits and any associated costs.
Ask what portion of your salary you will receive while you're waiting to obtain either your Hong Kong or Macau licenses, you may be surprised at what you're told; assuming of course they tell you the truth.
Ask why the flightcrew and engineering staff on the helicopter side have such low morale. Then add that you've heard it has something to do with the incessant, almost childish erosion of the terms and conditions of their employment contracts.
How am I doing so far.
Should you be a first officer, ask how much you will have to pay when you are told you are about to be provided with "upgrade" training for a command.
Ask if you might be shown a published pay scale prior to signing on the dotted line.
Ask to be provided with a written document spelling out how the matter of seniority and promotion will be handled.
Ask about staff/family travel benefits and any associated costs.
Ask what portion of your salary you will receive while you're waiting to obtain either your Hong Kong or Macau licenses, you may be surprised at what you're told; assuming of course they tell you the truth.
Ask why the flightcrew and engineering staff on the helicopter side have such low morale. Then add that you've heard it has something to do with the incessant, almost childish erosion of the terms and conditions of their employment contracts.
How am I doing so far.
Last edited by omnipotent; 2nd Apr 2005 at 21:31.
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Last word
J A U,
C'mon my friend, wake up and smell the coffee.
The majority of pilots in this company are highly experienced people who have worked for many other companies in many parts of the world. You may need to remove the rose coloured glasses for a moment and be prepared to ask the Q's as suggested by other contributors.
By all means, take the chance, I think that you are probably low on experience and desperately want to take this opportunity. Most of us have been there and know what it is like. Just be carefull.
I will not be contributing to this topic again
C'mon my friend, wake up and smell the coffee.
The majority of pilots in this company are highly experienced people who have worked for many other companies in many parts of the world. You may need to remove the rose coloured glasses for a moment and be prepared to ask the Q's as suggested by other contributors.
By all means, take the chance, I think that you are probably low on experience and desperately want to take this opportunity. Most of us have been there and know what it is like. Just be carefull.
I will not be contributing to this topic again
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Now these are some post that people can take home and think about.
Thank you!!
On the contrary to what you think badapple, I am not a HKE wannabe, in fact, not even a pilot. But that is besides the point.
I was just fed up with people making unsubstanciated remarks.
Now after the last few post, some light has been shed on some of the practises that (possibly) go on within HKE. Now people can make a more informed decision.
And like you said, I suspect that most people are low hours/inexperienced, who are probably comming from cr*p jobs anyway. So in the end, I don't think they will be deterred regardless. Flying a shiny new jet is always better then shovelling sh*t somewhere in GA.
Once again thanks guys for elaborating, you've redeemed yourselves.
Thank you!!
On the contrary to what you think badapple, I am not a HKE wannabe, in fact, not even a pilot. But that is besides the point.
I was just fed up with people making unsubstanciated remarks.
Now after the last few post, some light has been shed on some of the practises that (possibly) go on within HKE. Now people can make a more informed decision.
And like you said, I suspect that most people are low hours/inexperienced, who are probably comming from cr*p jobs anyway. So in the end, I don't think they will be deterred regardless. Flying a shiny new jet is always better then shovelling sh*t somewhere in GA.
Once again thanks guys for elaborating, you've redeemed yourselves.
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Broke my promise
J A R
Ok, I said I wasn't going to contribute to this post but your last post forced me to come out of retirement
So, you admit that you are not even a pilot, eehh
You are like a eunuch in a brothel.....
You see it going on all around you
You have a pretty good idea of how it is done
but......
You just can't do it yourself.
To think that I wasted my efforts on a eunuch
Cheers
Ok, I said I wasn't going to contribute to this post but your last post forced me to come out of retirement
So, you admit that you are not even a pilot, eehh
You are like a eunuch in a brothel.....
You see it going on all around you
You have a pretty good idea of how it is done
but......
You just can't do it yourself.
To think that I wasted my efforts on a eunuch
Cheers
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Hmmm, when did I say that I know it all?
I can't quite understand the eunuch remark.
What does me not being a pilot have to do with the state of my testikels?
I'll be the fist to admit that I am not an aviation expert, I never pretended to be. But I do know several people who are in aviation, some of them indeed wanting to go to HK express.
I'm not sure what I've done to upset you my friend.
All I asked for was some elaboration on the negative posts here,
which you subsequently gave. Please explain why that was a wasted effort?
It is of no use to me personally, but I am sure that you've done several other people following this thread a good service.
A bit of clarity is what I asked, and a bit of clarity is what you gave.
Once again, thank you.
PS. Badapple, prehaps you could let us know what your interest in HKExpress is? cause afterall, if you're not directly related to anything in HKExpress, wouldn't that make you a eunuch as well?
I can't quite understand the eunuch remark.
What does me not being a pilot have to do with the state of my testikels?
I'll be the fist to admit that I am not an aviation expert, I never pretended to be. But I do know several people who are in aviation, some of them indeed wanting to go to HK express.
I'm not sure what I've done to upset you my friend.
All I asked for was some elaboration on the negative posts here,
which you subsequently gave. Please explain why that was a wasted effort?
It is of no use to me personally, but I am sure that you've done several other people following this thread a good service.
A bit of clarity is what I asked, and a bit of clarity is what you gave.
Once again, thank you.
PS. Badapple, prehaps you could let us know what your interest in HKExpress is? cause afterall, if you're not directly related to anything in HKExpress, wouldn't that make you a eunuch as well?
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jau
you are obviously as inexperienced a reader as you are an aviatior.
and given my length of time on the flightdeck as compared to yours, I hardly need the likes of you telling me I've been "redeemed".
PS. Perhaps YOU would like to let us all in on what exactly YOUR interest in HKE is, because I am quite certain most of the posters on this thread are infinitely closer to what's going on than you could ever hope to be.
you are obviously as inexperienced a reader as you are an aviatior.
and given my length of time on the flightdeck as compared to yours, I hardly need the likes of you telling me I've been "redeemed".
PS. Perhaps YOU would like to let us all in on what exactly YOUR interest in HKE is, because I am quite certain most of the posters on this thread are infinitely closer to what's going on than you could ever hope to be.
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A Typical problem
JAU,
R u sure that u are not a pilot? You seem to suffer from the same problem that pilots occassionally do (and I include myself in this one); we look but we do not observe.
Now, go back and read the previous posts carefully and your questions will be answered. Don't be lazy. Expecting someone else to do your work for you won't get you far in any walk of life. let alone aviation.
R u sure that u are not a pilot? You seem to suffer from the same problem that pilots occassionally do (and I include myself in this one); we look but we do not observe.
Now, go back and read the previous posts carefully and your questions will be answered. Don't be lazy. Expecting someone else to do your work for you won't get you far in any walk of life. let alone aviation.