Cathay Flight Deck Atmosphere

[duvie]

Hey Gents,

I'm a newbie to these forums so I thought I'd say hi. Thanks to all for the info and time spent giving advice to CX hopefuls.

I'm wondering what the cockpit environment is like at Cathay. I've heard a number of things, most of which seem to indicate the the atmosphere can be a bit stifling and serious.
Examples are:
-no reading on the flight deck even on long haul flights
-the captain is the ultimate boss
-a real lack of humour between crew members.

I don't mean any disrespect, I just want to straighten out the things I've heard and get a good feel for what a 14 hours flight would be like on a typical Cathay flight deck.

Thanks!

[rjmore]

I've found it to be just like any other major airline. The atmosphere is pretty good actually...on the freighter anyway. I can't speak for the pax fleet as my only time on that was during training.

Don't believe the stories you hear, most of it is bs.

[Sleeve_of_Wizard]

1. No reading allowed by certain Local captain. No reading of NON COMPANY MATERIAL is written in the book of CX Law.
2. Captain is Ultimate boss in all airlines is he ( she ) not??? Unless there is a dispute with a 1st Class Pax, then the passenger shall assume command.
3.Most guys do have a sense of humour! that's why we got into CX. HAHAHAHA...... we failed the airlines that made you pass psych tests!
4. Other than that, the Atmosphere in the Cockpit at CX is mainly made up of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and other stuff!!! SEE??? We are funny!!!!

[ltjng]

Depends what fleet you are in.......

I heard that being assigned in Airbus will feel more comfortable then in Boeing. I never been in CX Airbus fleet, but I can feel that B744 pax fleet is as formal as you can imagine.

[I'mbatman]

Its no diff here than anywhere else....just lots of different accents.

[rjmore]

Every airline's ops manual says only company material may be read. We all know how well that is followed. As for anal Captains, they are all over the industry and sometimes you get one. No big deal, happens anywhere you go.

[northeast canuck]

The captain IS the ultimate boss! It's the law!

[duvie]

Thanks for all the input. What I've taken from your responses is that CX is not as rigid as it may be portrayed. So, there are some captains and possibly equipment (744) that may be more formal than others, on many flights you can still do things other than stare at the instruments or out the window.

Also, I'm very glad to hear that humour is indeed present in the company. I must have been ill informed about the atmosphere (or lack thereof). From all accounts I've heard that the pilots are top notch and the company treats you very well.

Cheers,

Duvie

[duvie]

Care to expand mate?

[BusyB]

duvie,

In any airline with separate longhaul and shorthaul fleets you will find that the LH fleet will be more formal as they fly less often so don't read too much into it. This isn't just CX my previous airline was the same.

[duvie]

Thanks very much busyB. I knew this phenomenon to be true with US carriers, but it is a very welcome change because I feel that many American pilots are a little too informal on the domestic side (perhaps its the cavalier cowboy mentality ). Whatever the reason may be, international flying seems to attract a more professional breed of pilots, or perhaps happens to bring out a more attentive aviator in all of us.

Granted, we all know pilots that get so focused on minute details that they seem to forget the big ones (a mistake I've never made ) but I generally really enjoy flying with pilots who take the job seriously and still have perspective on a productive cockpit atmosphere.

Thanks for all the input Gents!

[ringerfromthetopend]

you wont last a cx if you dont have a sense of humour.....its only a job afterall...bahahaha

[ismangun]

@ Sleeve_of_wizard:

2. Captain is Ultimate boss in all airlines is he ( she ) not??? Unless there is a dispute with a 1st Class Pax, then the passenger shall assume command.

ROTFL