Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme

[pokemon3]

CX 2nd and 3rd stage interview

Anyone going for the Cathay Pacific cadet 2nd and 3rd stage interview on the 31May and 1Jun2010 in Hong Kong,please PM me.Cheers!

[SloppyJoe]

Flyhiigh,

You are going for a job interview with one of the worlds top airlines, I expect a nice suit would be appropriate.

[StandardToaster]

Flyhiigh,

May i ask where your interview is?

[0lancer0]

Thx ASL!

I found those runway headings to be correct! From what I remember in my presentation 'Parafield is served by 2 SETS of PARALLEL runways' lol.. so that must be the right airfield.. BTW would u happen to know whats the deal with the aptitude test?

[AsL402]

Thanks for the info Roxy_Chick_1989 & 0lancer0!

Roxy_Chick_1989,

Just trying to prepare for whatever questions they may ask me. Seems like no matter how much I read about, it still doesn't seem enough. That's some website you got there, although much of the information I can't understand yet. Hopefully we will have a chance to learn and understand it!!!

0lancer0,

I don't have any info about the aptitude test. All i have is what Em773ER posted on post #619

I will let you know if i come across any information.

[Em773ER]

stage 3

is it true that once you get invited to stage 3 you are pretty much a cadet? (provided you pass flight grading in stage 4 of course)

is it an actual interview or is it just going through management stuff and living in HK etc? like an information session or something along those lines.

[Em773ER]

&&&

do expats pay the same amount for rent as HK locals or is it higher for them??

[Bizzle284]

Thanks 0Lancer0

Thanks for the info. Congrats to all who are going for stages 1-4. It seems like there is someone on here going to every stage. That's a good sign. I know everyone will do well. Best of luck to all. And for those who have already completed some stages, keep the info coming. It's a great help to everyone going, and waiting to get the call.

[Bizzle284]

Em773ER

As far as I know, being a SO expat is no different than being local. Housing will be based on where you choose to live. You will basically be a resident of Hong Kong looking for a place to live.

I think this is how it is, if anyone has any info, correct me please

[Roxy_Chick_1989]

Hi guys,

I have an invite for Stage 1 and am wondering as an Aussie applicant, whether i stand a chance at getting on the course having never been to Hong Kong, nor having ever flown with CX. Obviously there are things that i can study in these areas to develop a basic knowledge but realistically is an airline likely to sign somebody up to a six year contract even though they have never resided in HK?

[Em773ER]

Bizzle284 and &&&

Thanks for the info Bizzle284.

I have done some research and found some decent apartments (about half an hour from cathay city) for under HK$10,000 a month which is really good for a young single S/O in my opinion. Also there is the fact that when you are on the job you are barely at home. So I am a little confused about this statement: "you will be living like a pauper in an ugly mass of ancient tiny apartments".

[quadspeed]

do expats pay the same amount for rent as HK locals or is it higher for them??

Of course they do; what makes you even think there'd be a difference and how would such a system work? Landlords charging differently depending on your passport?

Hong Kong is the ultimate free market; the price someone pays is the price it's worth.

However, the housing assistance offered to expats (as opposed to LEPs) does allow expats to pay more; much, much more in fact. Hence, expats live "comfortably" in Hong Kong (3-4 bedrooms and perhaps a view and some trees around, and after a while a deck, patio and maybe even a garden) while the rest make do with shoebox apartments often containing three generations of family-members in run-down buildings where the constant pounding of jack-hammers and diesel-engined buses keep you one line short of going insane.

I suggest you all take your eyes away from PPRuNe for a few hours and browse the AsiaEXPAT or GEOExpat boards and see what challenges other "international expats" (westerners without housing assistance) meet on the housing market. THEY are who you should be speaking to when it comes to preparing for the LEP international programme.

Also there is the fact that when you are on the job you are barely at home

And you do realize that SO's are "on the job" 6 days/9nights a month, right? Which leaves you with 24 days, every month, to sit and stare through your walls at the "ugly mass of ancient tiny apartments."

The VERY LAST consideration you should be making is how many minutes from Cathay City your apartment is; you only go there two-three times a month! Why not try to find an area where you might make some friends? Where guys in a similar lifestyle situation will be? Somewhere which may provide you with a reason to leave the apartment in the first place?

And for those of you who would join this program because "you love flying," it's truly sad that you don't realize this job is the exact opposite. This is the deskjob you take when you've had your share of adventure, spent your time in the field, and finally ready to kick back, enjoy the retirement-money and take up other hobbies like sailing or golf while spending afternoons with your beer-drinking buddies reminiscing and telling war-stories about the good old days when you actually flew.

[ZeR0]

I was just wondering, considering that most SO have like 20 something days off, what do they normally do then?? Do they find like a part time job or something?? Cause thats a lot of spare time

[quadspeed]

I was just wondering, considering that most SO have like 20 something days off, what do they normally do then?? Do they find like a part time job or something?? Cause thats a lot of spare time

Without specific approval, you're not allowed by CX to work anywhere else. So what do they do?

Have kids and spend time with their families. Get another degree.

The rest (single ones)? Go out for coffee with other SOs. Go our for dinner with other SO's. Go out drinking with other SOs. Do some travelling. Pick up surfing, sailing or hiking. For lack of a better word, get a hobby.

[PPRuNeUser0163]

Gday all,

just wondering if the schedules are known for interviews in Australia.. heard they are currently or shortly will be in BNE but is there any hint of stage 1s being held in MEL or SYD this month/next..

cheers

[Em773ER]

quadspeed

thanks a lot for the info, it's important to know these things before finding out when it's too late.

are you a S/O for CX?

if you know any more info on the topic please let us know cheers.

[ap_797]

Just a quick question relating to salary.
Once flight training begins and you are a S/O earning roughly HK$398,148 in year 1, are there flight training costs to repay back to Cathay or do Cathay automatically recoup the incurred costs through paying a lower salary then they would otherwise?

My understanding at the moment is that cadets do not pay for the training up front. If this is not the case then what financial contribution is required from cadets?

Thanks!

[holdmetight]

Once flight training begins and you are a S/O earning roughly HK$398,148 in year 1, are there flight training costs to repay back to Cathay or do Cathay automatically recoup the incurred costs through paying a lower salary then they would otherwise?

None of the above.

My understanding at the moment is that cadets do not pay for the training up front. If this is not the case then what financial contribution is required from cadets?

$0.

Cathay cadets don't pay a cent for their training, nor does the company recover the cost of training from an ex-cadet who has joined the company. The basic salary is the same for everyone, expatriate or LEP.

[SloppyJoe]

You do not get paid during training. You get some allowances which I assume would be enough for a few beers at the weekend but accommodation and meals are all included.

As above cadets and direct entry are on the same salary. Cadets do not get housing allowance which is about 60K HK$ a month at the moment. You do not pay anything for training, the company get their money back many times over during your career with them. In fact if you locked in at the top it was HK$74,000 a month in 2008 at one point so for the 15 years you get housing they save HK$13,320,000 that is if you decide not to rent before paying off a mortgage or using all 15 years. So yeah you do have to pay for the training I guess.

[flyhiigh]

Stage 1

StandardToaster, my stage 1 is in Paris in june..Have you got a invitation too?

Anyone knows about the "dresscode" for stage 1, is it suit?

Good day!