Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme

[BigglesNBella]

I asked them the day I was supposed to leave if it would be ok. The ticket they give you has a kind of "best before date" on it which for me was still good for a week or two after my interviews. I don't think they actually did anything to change my flights.

[pushpakshah]

Stage I

Hey,
Would anybody have an idea when CX plans to hold the next Stage I at HK? Are they still recruiting?
Thanks!

[Cahoonies]

Cadet entry employment

Yes Cathay are still interviewing and employing. There will be a continuous intake as they had shut down the employment for the last year or so.

It's just a matter if waiting for your number to come up I guess.

On the matter of flight days to arrive etc, I recommend getting to HKG at least one day before the interview. You will need to pay for your accom for the extra days but your already here so why not find out as much stuff as you can! They will like to hear that you're taking an interest in the place and gives you something to talk about during your interview.

While in HKG other than the tourist sightseeing and shopping may I suggest looking in the windows of some real estate/rental agencies to work out what sort of place you will be able to afford to live in once you are here. Previous experienced Second officers that were employed prior to 2009 all got a genorous housing allowance that after two years was more than their pay! Now that new recruits employed in 2010 won't be getting any housing allowance (Cadet entry package) be sure that you are ready to share apartments or live in very small 1-2 room flats far out of town.

The airport has a suburb close by Tung Chung that has cheaper housing than in town so it is possible to live, just not at the size or location that guys before you have been offered. Your entertainment will all be on Hong Kong Island but their is a 45 min train leading straight in to the island.

If you have a wife unless she is a qualified teacher she may not find work as easy as it is back in your home. Girlfriends/Fiancees can't work unless they have a degree and can prove that a Chinese person couldn't do the job. As most jobs require Cantonese fluency spoken and written you are left fighting for the ones that aren't and most full time jobs require 6 days a week, and long hours. Don't think about having kids because schooling in Hong Kong is frightfully expensive, and you won't be able to afford the wife not working. Yay for the Cadet package!

For info the Cadet package was designed for school leaving Hong Kong unders 21's who had no chance to do flying training in Hong Kong, hence the requirement for no previous flying experience. Because they lived at home with the family they could afford not to receive housing. Obviously Cathay would want to see a return for paying for their year and a bit traning from scratch. And for Cathay after they had paid back their training costs (after about 18 months) these employees provide great savings to the company. It was a win win situation.

Unfortunately the incentive to move to overseas for good money is not being offered by Cathay at the moment. The cost of living in Hong Kong is one of the highest in the world! But hopefully if enough of you new guys complain and/or leave for better conditions at other airlines maybe things will improve in the future. I'm sure the Cathay pilots union will have a few things to say about this new package being offered without it's approval, but the only way things tend to change for the better with Cathay is if people leave.

Any way good luck with the application. It goes without saying, Keep the applications going out to the other airlines alwell!!

[eleong]

2nd Stage Interview

I finally received the itinerary from Cathay for the 2nd stage interview. Here is the list:


- Personality Test (Computer-based/Time allowed: 45mins)
- Numeracy Test (Computer-based/Time allowed: 30mins)
- Aptitude test (Computer bases/ Time allowed: 75mins)
- Group Exercise (60mins)
- Flight Planning Exercise (90mins)
- Panel Interview (General and Technical/ 60mins)
- Medical


I already took the Harrison personality test in the 1st stage. I wanna know what do the Personality Test and Aptitude Test look like in 2nd stage? Is that something I could prepare??

I believe the Numeracy Test is what everyone discussed here as the math test.

For the group exercise, will they give a question related to flying or not necessary? In the others works, is it to test your logic and problem solving skills but not to test your professional knowledge of flying?

For the Flight planning exercise, I personally do not have any flying experience, how would it look like and how I could prepare for this without any true flying experience?

Lastly, for the panel interview, will that be conducted by two persons, one from HR and the other from Technical person, which is similar to the 1st stage interview? Or will that be conducted by a group of interviewers?


I truly thanks for those who could provide comments on these.

[kimba928]

Stage 1 interview

I'm new too - what manual are you referring to at the stage 1 interview - when do you get given it? thanks for an inspiring overview of the process. Any other info you can give would also be appreciated. Good luck in progressing to stage 2. Any indication when that will be?

[holdmetight]

eleong

When are you doing Stage 2/3?

As for your questions, I'll take a bite. Everyone else, please feel free to correct if my answers are inaccurate.

For the group exercise, will they give a question related to flying or not necessary? In the others works, is it to test your logic and problem solving skills but not to test your professional knowledge of flying?

From my previous experience the question had nothing to do with flying. I remember my group did something about selecting an astronaut to save the world from a destructive meteor. Our main task was to select the most appropriate candidate from amongst a pile of dossiers. I think they are mainly looking at your ability to interact with others, it has even been said that it does not matter if you don't get a final result.

For the Flight planning exercise, I personally do not have any flying experience, how would it look like and how I could prepare for this without any true flying experience?

I heard the flight planning exercise is now about doing some route planning for a B737 around Asia. You don't need any flying experience to do well. They will give you a bunch of constraints and they will ask you to plot the best route for the aircraft, keeping the constraints in mind. Time pressure will also be applied, and you are also expected to work with your fellow candidate to get an answer. CRM is what they are looking for.

Lastly, for the panel interview, will that be conducted by two persons, one from HR and the other from Technical person, which is similar to the 1st stage interview? Or will that be conducted by a group of interviewers?

You get two people, one HR and one pilot. That is what it is typically like nowadays!

[kimba928]

When did you apply?

Congratulations for doing your stage 1 interview! Can you please let me know when did you apply online with your application? Where did you sit the interview?

[italia458]

the WOMBAT has nothing to do with your flying ability. it's a situational awareness and stress test used to determine suitability for complex-system operators such as pilots, ATC, 911 operators, ship and train operators, etc.

if you get stressed and panic while doing it, resign to the situation, etc then you won't do well! the stress comes when you realize you're "making mistakes" and therefore how you manage those mistakes is really what they look at. everyone talks about these interviews as being so intense and involving and it's got multiple assessment stages and interviews and blah blah blah!! yes, this is a selection process, but it's really a lot easier than it appears.

good luck to all who apply!

[eleong]

to: holdmetight

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am going for stage 2/3 at Sep 7th and 8th.

As for the ground exercise, how may candidates were grouped in one group in your case? Did the interviewer stay in the room to observe the group discussion, or did they leave the room and come back later for the answer?

For the flying planning, if you happen to still remember your questions, could you elaborate the details a bit more. That will be greatly helpful and appreciated.


Are you currently hired as the cadet pilot now?

[holdmetight]

eleong

I am going for stage 2/3 at Sep 7th and 8th.

That's funny. I am going for Stage 2 and 3 on these days as well, so why haven't I received my itinerary yet? Anyway, nice to meet you and see you on the day. I'm going to send you a PM with some contact details, check it out.

As for the ground exercise, how may candidates were grouped in one group in your case? Did the interviewer stay in the room to observe the group discussion, or did they leave the room and come back later for the answer?

When I last did it around 2 years ago, I had 4 candidates in my group. This year, I'm expecting 6 candidates in our group, judging from the number of people I've made contact with and who said they would do Stage 2/3 on our days. There are two staff who sit silently in the room during the exercise, they only observe and take notes. After 45 minutes is up, they will take turns asking questions and each group member is encouraged to answer.

For the flying planning, if you happen to still remember your questions, could you elaborate the details a bit more.

Hmmm. In the scenario given, we were playing an employee of a gliding school. We had to produce the most suitable flight plan for a glider race or something. There were several waypoints to choose from, but each came with their own constraints (i.e. not every waypoint is open 24 hours, some pass through mountains that the glider cannot outclimb etc.) So given these constraints I had to work with another candidate to find the best route. Co-operation was necessary as we had different sets of information and needed to use each others material every now and then.

These days it is different though, I heard it's about planning a flight for a B737 flying around Asia. The gist of the exercise should be similar though. Hope you get the picture.

[Andrew804]

Hey,

In regard to the flight planning exercise and group exercise it is very easy, don't stress that you dont know what its going to be on. It the simplest of maths and you just have to think clearly. Most important is how you work with the other people in your group as each person has a bit of info that the others don't so you have to communicate.

It was actually quite fun, hardest thing is concentrating on the task in the room as the floor to ceiling windows give a perfect view of the airport and runways!

Cheers,

[ap_797]

Hi all,
I have a quick question. If my contact telephone number etc have changed since submitting the online application who would I need to inform? Do I simply email 'cadet pilot'?

Has anyone else had to change their details since sending the application online and if so have those details been successfully updated on the application?

thanks!

ap_797

[holdmetight]

ap_797

Yeah I changed my home and correspondence addresses two months after I applied online. All you do is e-mail 'cadet pilot' to tell them what you want to change, your new contact information, and when it takes effect. They replied me about a week after I sent them the e-mail, and confirmed the changes. Hope this helps.

[maverick8989]

Has anyone in Singapore been called up for an interview yet ?

[eleong]

to: holdmetight

Thanks again for your information. It is great to know that we will meet in the same stage. That is wonderful.

For the Aptitude test, I learned that I will be put in a sort of simulator (not true fly simulator) to test my hands, feet, listening, and eye coordination through a list of tasked I was required to complete simultaneously.

For the Personality test, I assume that is another type of physiology test similar to the one I took in 1st stage, something that I cannot prepare but to answer honestly.

Let me know if you have more information that I have now. Thanks.

[StandardToaster]

So are the personality/aptitude tests going ahead with candidates whom already did the personality/wombat in stage 1?

[avis03]

hey guys.. I applied in jan and was told that my application is still being processed. I put Singapore as my first choice interview location. anyone had stories of a successful call up after 8 months? I hope they at least send a rejection letter, if they're gonna do it..

[Benj1]

Hey Avis, it took them about 8months plus as well to contact me for an interview in the last exercise in SG.

Just hang tight and stay patient, I'm sure you'll get the news soon.

[Andrew804]

Avis,

Mate it took 9 months from when i first filled in my application until i got any word from Cathay, and that was the invitation to the initial. By that stage i'd almost forgotten i'd applied, i just checked back occasionally and when i tried to log on it said my application was still being processed, so i thought righto they are obviously busy and i havn't been rejected yet so i just waited it out, and eventually like i said 9 months later i got an email out of the blue. In that time i'd gone and got a job in GA.
The waits in between the next stages are alot shorter, max 1 month

Cheers

[kimba928]

Heard anything back yet?

Hi there did you state as your preference HKG for initial interview? When did you apply for the CPP? Look forward to hearing back from you.