SO Endorsement
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Nuclear Dust City
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Two words mate, "CHEAP LABOUR".... 
They don't have enough sectors to go around, yet require cruise pilots for in flight relief. What better way than to give you absolutely useless hours for 3 years so you can't use any of it anywhere else and realize you're in absolutely no better spot than before to get a job elsewhere.
3 years as a professional commercial jet pilot and all of a sudden you realize,
, I have never and dunno how to land this thing... 
Love the fact that while your friends are looking to settle down with their lives after 3 years into a job, you're just starting to face the geatest challenge that could mean the end of your job.
They don't have enough sectors to go around, yet require cruise pilots for in flight relief. What better way than to give you absolutely useless hours for 3 years so you can't use any of it anywhere else and realize you're in absolutely no better spot than before to get a job elsewhere.
3 years as a professional commercial jet pilot and all of a sudden you realize,
, I have never and dunno how to land this thing... Love the fact that while your friends are looking to settle down with their lives after 3 years into a job, you're just starting to face the geatest challenge that could mean the end of your job.
Join Date: Nov 2007
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scooby79: i could not tell if you are being sarcastic or not due to your run on sentences and accusitory tone.
as an SO, you fly 3+ years as a relief pilot. you won't get to even touch the control other than in cruise, and the occasional sims. Then in a short period of time you are expected to be able to land the darn thing.
If you can't even foresee this to be an issue, you are in the wrong profession. you should quit now.
as an SO, you fly 3+ years as a relief pilot. you won't get to even touch the control other than in cruise, and the occasional sims. Then in a short period of time you are expected to be able to land the darn thing.
If you can't even foresee this to be an issue, you are in the wrong profession. you should quit now.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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CX's philosophy is quite backward when it comes to using cruise relief pilots. Don't think there is any airline out there that still uses second officers the way cathay does. Most of the guys coming in as SO's don't know any better because they are cadets fresh from the cadet programme and therefore, apart from the sim, haven't really had the opportunity to handle to aircraft. Those pilots coming in as DESO who have had time on jets feel they have made a step back, some leave and go back to their old jobs. Cathay needs to put things in perspective and give SO's a bigger role in flying. Four years is a long time to wait, even for the guys with no jet time. Not sure how cathay expect their SO's skills to develop over the course of the 4 years (apart aquiring really good R/T skills).
Join Date: Oct 2005
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....and tweaking the HDG bug a degree or two every so often, when you glance up at the ND whilst reading "Company material", across the Pacific or B330 
Join Date: Dec 2007
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scooby79: 
No, I'm not saying that it's hard and could end your career, but it's an undeniable truth that some of the ex-cadets were terminated due to that very reason (in fact, some of the experienced expats were too). There's no training in CX, everything is handed to you in text and it's upon yourself to translate them into actual skills with the 3 years time. If you're lucky, you would have a sim every other or two months to "practice" your skills while the guy behind you constantly pick out the mistakes you made and put them on your training report. But as the company is expanding so quickly, training resources is at its premium, so it's not even a surprise if one doesn't get a sim for 3 months.
Besides, if you ask any pilot, flying a sim just isn't like the real thing. The sim could only do so much for ya, afterall, it's still a computer program. It can't reproduce every single variation you get in real life but unfortunately that's what you have to stick with for 3 years before all of a sudden you're given all these variations. And Murphy's law, you usually get them during you checks.
No, I'm not saying that it's hard and could end your career, but it's an undeniable truth that some of the ex-cadets were terminated due to that very reason (in fact, some of the experienced expats were too). There's no training in CX, everything is handed to you in text and it's upon yourself to translate them into actual skills with the 3 years time. If you're lucky, you would have a sim every other or two months to "practice" your skills while the guy behind you constantly pick out the mistakes you made and put them on your training report. But as the company is expanding so quickly, training resources is at its premium, so it's not even a surprise if one doesn't get a sim for 3 months.Besides, if you ask any pilot, flying a sim just isn't like the real thing. The sim could only do so much for ya, afterall, it's still a computer program. It can't reproduce every single variation you get in real life but unfortunately that's what you have to stick with for 3 years before all of a sudden you're given all these variations. And Murphy's law, you usually get them during you checks.
CXChildLabour
Not many SO’s know this but if it goes a day over 90 days you can’t fly.
But as the company is expanding so quickly, training resources is at its premium, so it's not even a surprise if one doesn't get a sim for 3 months.
Vol 7 Part 1
1-5-1
SO, JFO AND FO UPGRADE
3. SO CONTINUATION TRAINING POST CONVERSION
3.1 General
A. Every SO shall be rostered in accordance with the flow diagrams contained in this section. In
accordance with CAD 360, the period between successive simulator modules must not exceed 90
days.
B. Each module is a structured training lesson and must be completed to a satisfactory level for the pilot’s grade.
C. The FTM must be informed by the instructor of an incomplete or unsatisfactory performance, or if there is a discrepancy between the rostered and required Module. For a module to be deemed complete the SO must have completed at least a take-off, landing and an instrument approach in order to meet the requirements of CAD 54.
D. A report on each module must be completed in Training Records.
E. FTM (Fleet) is to ensure that any missed training modules are reprogrammed as soon as possible.
F. SOs who act as crew up for another SO during Continuation Training should, if a full four hour
session is allocated, complete the MX module profile.
NOTE: Schedule 9 items are completed in Modules 3 and 6, Schedule 11 items are completed in each module.
1-5-1
SO, JFO AND FO UPGRADE
3. SO CONTINUATION TRAINING POST CONVERSION
3.1 General
A. Every SO shall be rostered in accordance with the flow diagrams contained in this section. In
accordance with CAD 360, the period between successive simulator modules must not exceed 90
days.
B. Each module is a structured training lesson and must be completed to a satisfactory level for the pilot’s grade.
C. The FTM must be informed by the instructor of an incomplete or unsatisfactory performance, or if there is a discrepancy between the rostered and required Module. For a module to be deemed complete the SO must have completed at least a take-off, landing and an instrument approach in order to meet the requirements of CAD 54.
D. A report on each module must be completed in Training Records.
E. FTM (Fleet) is to ensure that any missed training modules are reprogrammed as soon as possible.
F. SOs who act as crew up for another SO during Continuation Training should, if a full four hour
session is allocated, complete the MX module profile.
NOTE: Schedule 9 items are completed in Modules 3 and 6, Schedule 11 items are completed in each module.
Join Date: Dec 2007
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404 Titan: You're right about that, but apparently that could be waived if CC deemed neccessary. My mate had that happen to him and he called CC, they say they know about it and it's alright to go beyond 90 days.
CXChildLabour
Actually CC has absolutely no flexibility with the 90 day rule. It is a “must” do item as directed in CAD 360 and made very clear in Vol 7 Part 1, 1-5-1, Para 3.1 A, and if you go past it, you are grounded. CC will do what they have to to fix their own problems and at the same time possibly get you in the poo. It is your responsibility to maintain a current licence. I suggest that if this happens again he speak to the fleet training manager, not CC. I can assure you the sim will be re-instated quick smart.
Actually CC has absolutely no flexibility with the 90 day rule. It is a “must” do item as directed in CAD 360 and made very clear in Vol 7 Part 1, 1-5-1, Para 3.1 A, and if you go past it, you are grounded. CC will do what they have to to fix their own problems and at the same time possibly get you in the poo. It is your responsibility to maintain a current licence. I suggest that if this happens again he speak to the fleet training manager, not CC. I can assure you the sim will be re-instated quick smart.
