SO/FO?
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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SO/FO?
Hello everyone!
I am currently working as FO on MD80 for a small European airline. We mostly do wet lease and charter ops. I like my job but I am thinking of moving on career wise.
Cathay is one of the options that seem very interesting to me. I am thinking of weather I should try to start as SO on PAX or DEFO on Freighter.
I am hoping that maybe some of you guys who has been through this before and have some experience can help me out by letting me know some of your thoughts and ideas about this.
I started out as a low timer and have about 750h tt now out of which 530 is on the MD. I expect to meet the SO req. during the spring and the min req. for DEFO at about this time next year. I know that the req. are just min req. and maybe a lot more hours are needed for DEFO but I also know that the aviation market has changed and turned upwards a lot the last year or two so it might not be impossible after all.
I know I have limited experience but not being allowed to take off or land for 1,2,3? years makes me feel as if it would be better to stay where I am a little bit longer and then try the DEFO option. However, DEFO on Freighter fleet would mean a base in Europe (I live in Sweden now) and I am not sure I want that. I would probably try to commute, maybe Frankfurt-Stockholm. Anyone who does the same? Would that work? What are the roster patterns?
On the other hand my girlfriend thinks it would be very exciting to move to Hong Kong and she thinks she can get a good job there. I wouldn't mind going there myself but I am hesitating some on becoming SO.
However, I think I would prefer flying PAX and in the long run I suppose I can be a relief pilot for a while if I know it leads to something good.
Any general ideas about this?
Howabout living in Hong Kong on SO salary? Is that ok with the housing allowance or will it be hard?
Or transfering from Cargo to PAX. Cathay's web page says minimum 3 years but what is it in reality?
Is the SO to FO upgrades done strictly based on seniority or would it be possible for me to make that faster if I already have lets say 1100h MD80 when I start?
I have also read some disturbing threads here and of course I know that they are just threads here and not exactly the truth, but no smoke without a fire. Some guys are complaining about a reporting system and a training system that seems to me as if it looks for mistakes more than it educates. That seems very far from what I am used to from Scandinavia. Any truth in this or is it just misunderstandings or unhappy people opening up after having failed or what?
I know there are a lot of questions but if some of you have the time and energy to answer at least a few of them I would be very grateful.
Any other Swedes or Scandinavians out there who are working for CX who can let me know what you think of the company?
By the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
/A
I am currently working as FO on MD80 for a small European airline. We mostly do wet lease and charter ops. I like my job but I am thinking of moving on career wise.
Cathay is one of the options that seem very interesting to me. I am thinking of weather I should try to start as SO on PAX or DEFO on Freighter.
I am hoping that maybe some of you guys who has been through this before and have some experience can help me out by letting me know some of your thoughts and ideas about this.
I started out as a low timer and have about 750h tt now out of which 530 is on the MD. I expect to meet the SO req. during the spring and the min req. for DEFO at about this time next year. I know that the req. are just min req. and maybe a lot more hours are needed for DEFO but I also know that the aviation market has changed and turned upwards a lot the last year or two so it might not be impossible after all.
I know I have limited experience but not being allowed to take off or land for 1,2,3? years makes me feel as if it would be better to stay where I am a little bit longer and then try the DEFO option. However, DEFO on Freighter fleet would mean a base in Europe (I live in Sweden now) and I am not sure I want that. I would probably try to commute, maybe Frankfurt-Stockholm. Anyone who does the same? Would that work? What are the roster patterns?
On the other hand my girlfriend thinks it would be very exciting to move to Hong Kong and she thinks she can get a good job there. I wouldn't mind going there myself but I am hesitating some on becoming SO.
However, I think I would prefer flying PAX and in the long run I suppose I can be a relief pilot for a while if I know it leads to something good.
Any general ideas about this?
Howabout living in Hong Kong on SO salary? Is that ok with the housing allowance or will it be hard?
Or transfering from Cargo to PAX. Cathay's web page says minimum 3 years but what is it in reality?
Is the SO to FO upgrades done strictly based on seniority or would it be possible for me to make that faster if I already have lets say 1100h MD80 when I start?
I have also read some disturbing threads here and of course I know that they are just threads here and not exactly the truth, but no smoke without a fire. Some guys are complaining about a reporting system and a training system that seems to me as if it looks for mistakes more than it educates. That seems very far from what I am used to from Scandinavia. Any truth in this or is it just misunderstandings or unhappy people opening up after having failed or what?
I know there are a lot of questions but if some of you have the time and energy to answer at least a few of them I would be very grateful.
Any other Swedes or Scandinavians out there who are working for CX who can let me know what you think of the company?
By the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
/A
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Depends on age... What you want etc... I'll tell you there are trainers, 7000tt who join CX as an SO so jumping the cue... DONT THINK SO!!!!
Most of the questions you ask as for rosters, pay etc are all here to find already, just use the... yes SEARCH function.
IMHO your experience is very low... Just apply, keep updating etc..
SO is a way of life, not a pilot's job (NO disrespect) and you'll get on the ladder nevertheless and get the window seat in a couple of years anyway (SENIOR to new joining FO's on thepax fleet after you (base AMS or...)) I reckon for a DFO job your hours are too low for the coming years.
As I said, keep getting them hours in and make up your mind in due time....
As for Hong Kong, I LOVE IT!!!
Cheers
Most of the questions you ask as for rosters, pay etc are all here to find already, just use the... yes SEARCH function.
IMHO your experience is very low... Just apply, keep updating etc..
SO is a way of life, not a pilot's job (NO disrespect) and you'll get on the ladder nevertheless and get the window seat in a couple of years anyway (SENIOR to new joining FO's on thepax fleet after you (base AMS or...)) I reckon for a DFO job your hours are too low for the coming years.
As I said, keep getting them hours in and make up your mind in due time....
As for Hong Kong, I LOVE IT!!!
Cheers
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Tell you what, get the minimum hours for F/O (required by CX) then join as an S/O you and your girlfriend can check out HK and see what you think, if you're having a good time stick with it and use the S/O roster for you both to see asia using staff travel.
If HK isn't your cup of tea just yet, or the flying as S/O isn't, you can apply for PAX F/O AMS or FRT F/O EUR (Less $$$ on FRT !!!) as you have the hours for F/O already and you will have the "CX way" under your belt.
However, if you opt for the PAX F/O AMS you may have to go to the bottom of the senority list again, ie resign and rejoin (a paper work exercise) as I believe a current S/O with the hours for F/O is taking a Sydney base out of seniority so he's basically being rehired as a direct entry PAX F/O SYD.
Hope this helps.
If HK isn't your cup of tea just yet, or the flying as S/O isn't, you can apply for PAX F/O AMS or FRT F/O EUR (Less $$$ on FRT !!!) as you have the hours for F/O already and you will have the "CX way" under your belt.
However, if you opt for the PAX F/O AMS you may have to go to the bottom of the senority list again, ie resign and rejoin (a paper work exercise) as I believe a current S/O with the hours for F/O is taking a Sydney base out of seniority so he's basically being rehired as a direct entry PAX F/O SYD.
Hope this helps.
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sweden
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Thanks dragon501
Of course my hours are low. However I know people who will start within a few months as FO on Cargo with about 3000h. And I was also thinking that there might be a difference between starting with 1000tt, which might be piston, and having 1000h jet but if you say it's a no go to jump the line I believe you.
And SMOC
A rather good idea you came up with. Thanks!
In a way that is "jumping the line" as dragon501 said would be impossible. The difference is of course that I would loose my seniroity. On the other hand I would not even have any seniority if I wait untill I can go directly into a FO job so I suppose it will be same same...
I have a good job and a good salary so I don't need to force it to get into Cathay. I just want it to work out well and as you said, that way I can check out HK and see what I think.
Thanks both of you!
/A
Of course my hours are low. However I know people who will start within a few months as FO on Cargo with about 3000h. And I was also thinking that there might be a difference between starting with 1000tt, which might be piston, and having 1000h jet but if you say it's a no go to jump the line I believe you.
And SMOC
A rather good idea you came up with. Thanks!
In a way that is "jumping the line" as dragon501 said would be impossible. The difference is of course that I would loose my seniroity. On the other hand I would not even have any seniority if I wait untill I can go directly into a FO job so I suppose it will be same same...
I have a good job and a good salary so I don't need to force it to get into Cathay. I just want it to work out well and as you said, that way I can check out HK and see what I think.
Thanks both of you!
/A
