Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme
Join Date: May 2002
Location: up here, everyone looks like ants!
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You've pretty much nailed the major issues with this scheme.
The cost of living (as an expat) in HKG are astronomical. Rents are breathtakingly high and rising, and although folks who sign up for this so-called "cadet" scheme will eventually be eligible for housing assistance, it's laughable.
S/O's log P2X hours, 1/4 of which count towards a higher licence. No, you cannot log P2 time even when you're in a window seat.
So what's the upside for CX and why are they training people with no time, no connection to HKG and non Chinese?
In three words, the housing allowance. A normal expat here in HKG gets around $65,000 - $200,000 as a monthly allowance. Depending on where you choose to live, it gets you a decent condo or townhouse in a nice area.
Cathay has always been on the lower end of the scale and it's renting less and less of an expat type accommodation.
Although CX pays for your training in it's entirety at a cost of about AUD200K (HKD1.4 million) it takes no math genius to figure out that they've recouped their training costs after a scant 2 years (of no housing to the "lucky" cadet) and it's upside from then on in for CX while the fortunate individual continues to lose significantly over the next 20 years (approximate time to command).
Finally, when command does slide into view, your housing is at a scant HKD24K a month - whilst not a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, is a far cry from the allowances of other expat bankers, engineers and the like.
I won't dispute that it's a decent flying job.
The aircraft are shiny and new, the destinations are interesting, the airline is stable and training is very good. I won't raise the issues of rostering and management, which cloud the bigger issue of remuneration.
So, at the end of the day, you may find yourself in a shiny 777 or A350, winging your way to strange and exotic places...
You just won't have any money.
The cost of living (as an expat) in HKG are astronomical. Rents are breathtakingly high and rising, and although folks who sign up for this so-called "cadet" scheme will eventually be eligible for housing assistance, it's laughable.
S/O's log P2X hours, 1/4 of which count towards a higher licence. No, you cannot log P2 time even when you're in a window seat.
So what's the upside for CX and why are they training people with no time, no connection to HKG and non Chinese?
In three words, the housing allowance. A normal expat here in HKG gets around $65,000 - $200,000 as a monthly allowance. Depending on where you choose to live, it gets you a decent condo or townhouse in a nice area.
Cathay has always been on the lower end of the scale and it's renting less and less of an expat type accommodation.
Although CX pays for your training in it's entirety at a cost of about AUD200K (HKD1.4 million) it takes no math genius to figure out that they've recouped their training costs after a scant 2 years (of no housing to the "lucky" cadet) and it's upside from then on in for CX while the fortunate individual continues to lose significantly over the next 20 years (approximate time to command).
Finally, when command does slide into view, your housing is at a scant HKD24K a month - whilst not a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, is a far cry from the allowances of other expat bankers, engineers and the like.
I won't dispute that it's a decent flying job.
The aircraft are shiny and new, the destinations are interesting, the airline is stable and training is very good. I won't raise the issues of rostering and management, which cloud the bigger issue of remuneration.
So, at the end of the day, you may find yourself in a shiny 777 or A350, winging your way to strange and exotic places...
You just won't have any money.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: 'round here
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You just won't have any money.
F*ck me, anything you earn with CX when you have got 200 hrs total time sitting in a widebody has to be better than an instructing job paying two tenths of sweet FA which is where you would be instead...........................
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dubai
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Hi everyone,
First of all, thank you for all the interview tips + frank advice on the reality on joining CPCPP as a foreigner on local terms. This thread has been extremely helpful in preparing me for my upcoming Stage 1 assessment.
Would anyone be able to tell me how many female pilots are there in CX at current? Just wondering, if I make the cut, what's the figure that I'll be adding to.
Cheers
First of all, thank you for all the interview tips + frank advice on the reality on joining CPCPP as a foreigner on local terms. This thread has been extremely helpful in preparing me for my upcoming Stage 1 assessment.
Would anyone be able to tell me how many female pilots are there in CX at current? Just wondering, if I make the cut, what's the figure that I'll be adding to.
Cheers
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: ABZ
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Capt. Underpants / aztec and others thanks for your thoughts on this one.
Have spoken to a couple of friends who fly here in Europe as FOs and they don't seem to think spending 4 + years sitting in a jumpseat and not logging any 'real' hours is a great idea. Of course, it's easy to say that if you're already employed as a pilot, but it does make sense.
Undertaking 14 months of intensive training only to be told I can't actually handle the plane for TO/L for several years would most likely mean boredom and frustration (for me at least).
I guess this cadet scheme IS a good idea for those perhaps in their early 20s and single who can afford to spend their first few years in CX not logging any P2 time ... I'm 28 and starting to think it may be wiser to spend 4 years logging actual P2 time (hopefully) after finishing training.
Thanks again guys ... and if anyone has a different perspective feel free to chime in ...good luck to everyone else.
Again, not trying to sound ungrateful or arrogant ... I guess this just doesn't suit everyone ....
Have spoken to a couple of friends who fly here in Europe as FOs and they don't seem to think spending 4 + years sitting in a jumpseat and not logging any 'real' hours is a great idea. Of course, it's easy to say that if you're already employed as a pilot, but it does make sense.
Undertaking 14 months of intensive training only to be told I can't actually handle the plane for TO/L for several years would most likely mean boredom and frustration (for me at least).
I guess this cadet scheme IS a good idea for those perhaps in their early 20s and single who can afford to spend their first few years in CX not logging any P2 time ... I'm 28 and starting to think it may be wiser to spend 4 years logging actual P2 time (hopefully) after finishing training.
Thanks again guys ... and if anyone has a different perspective feel free to chime in ...good luck to everyone else.
Again, not trying to sound ungrateful or arrogant ... I guess this just doesn't suit everyone ....
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hong Kong
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Stage 2 Itinerary
If anyone is still interested, here is my Stage 2 itinerary. I know it's a bit late, I had some problems with my e-mail account and it only recently got fixed. Here goes:
- The Wombat Pilot Aptitude Test (90mins)
- Personality Test (Time allowed: 30 mins)
- Numeracy Test (Time allowed: 30 mins)
- Group Exercise (60 mins)
- Flight Planning Exercise (90 mins)
- Panel Interview (General and Technical; 60 mins)
I have also been advised to study the JKI booklet once again, as well as a Wombat manual which they have sent me. Anyone else going for Stage 2/3 on 7th/8th September?
- The Wombat Pilot Aptitude Test (90mins)
- Personality Test (Time allowed: 30 mins)
- Numeracy Test (Time allowed: 30 mins)
- Group Exercise (60 mins)
- Flight Planning Exercise (90 mins)
- Panel Interview (General and Technical; 60 mins)
I have also been advised to study the JKI booklet once again, as well as a Wombat manual which they have sent me. Anyone else going for Stage 2/3 on 7th/8th September?
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Asia
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Stage 2 Itinerary
My stage 2 schedule says (Sep. 7th and 8th interview):
- 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 was also informed to study the JKI booklet on the invitation e-mail. I wonder what this 75-minute aptitude test is about since I did my WOMBAT in stage 1. I also did a computer based personality test in stage 1; I'm wondering what this 45-minute personality test is about as well. The e-mail says that this schedule is just for Stage 2.
- 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 was also informed to study the JKI booklet on the invitation e-mail. I wonder what this 75-minute aptitude test is about since I did my WOMBAT in stage 1. I also did a computer based personality test in stage 1; I'm wondering what this 45-minute personality test is about as well. The e-mail says that this schedule is just for Stage 2.
Last edited by Airman1985; 27th Aug 2010 at 05:25.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: australia
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JKI is a booklet in pdf format that cx will send you once you're invited to Stage 1A and contains very very basic aviation related technical information. JK probably stands for job knowledge. there'll be a MC test largely based on the JKI
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dubai
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Hey Victor_Indigo_Bravo. Yes I'm invited to Stage 1. The thing is I actually applied in September 2009, and was first invited for interview in Kuala Lumpur in April 2010. I could not make it as I was overseas so they've now extended the interview to me in Hong Kong next month.
Hang in there. I waited 6 months to hear from CX after I applied initially. All the best!
Hang in there. I waited 6 months to hear from CX after I applied initially. All the best!
Join Date: May 2008
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jerry it still depends heavily on your interview and group exercise and tests etc. it's a long course because they are prepared to take ppl who has no license whatsoever and even if you have yours you still need to go through the whole 60weeks, not much difference for them.
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Herrtob:
JKI is a booklet in pdf format that cx will send you once you're invited to Stage 1A and contains very very basic aviation related technical information. JK probably stands for job knowledge. there'll be a MC test largely based on the JKI
JKI is a booklet in pdf format that cx will send you once you're invited to Stage 1A and contains very very basic aviation related technical information. JK probably stands for job knowledge. there'll be a MC test largely based on the JKI
Jerry Lee:
Hi,
I have just one question: could I have more possibilities if I got a PPL with at least 120 hours?
Hi,
I have just one question: could I have more possibilities if I got a PPL with at least 120 hours?
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: In the thoughts of who loves me
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People with no experience are accepted in this CPP so..
Join Date: Jun 2008
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@Jerry Lee: Yeah, so? Maybe, that if you would have some flight experience or very much flight experience is OK. But you can still apply to the scheme if you have none experience..
Join Date: May 2008
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Jerry, "this answer has no sense" sounds a little... well i'll leave you to discover but it's not very nice
as for the JKI once you have applied and they are inviting you to interview you'll get it. if you are really serious about cpp then you don't even need to have the JKI as you should already know all the stuff in there plus lots more.
as for the JKI once you have applied and they are inviting you to interview you'll get it. if you are really serious about cpp then you don't even need to have the JKI as you should already know all the stuff in there plus lots more.
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Anyone want to share accommodation?
Hi all,
I have also been invited for Stage 1 in HKG. I'm currently looking into accommodation which is all really expensive close to Cathay City.
I tried the Headland Hotel as some here suggested, apparently some people here managed to stay there for their Stage 1 but that didn't work out for me. So now I'm thinking of booking either the Regal or Novotel hotel. If there's anyone interested in sharing a room at one of these places that would be great. I'm planning to stay there for 2 nights arriving September 14, leaving September 16. Please send me a PM if you're interested and that will save us a couple of bucks!
I have also been invited for Stage 1 in HKG. I'm currently looking into accommodation which is all really expensive close to Cathay City.
I tried the Headland Hotel as some here suggested, apparently some people here managed to stay there for their Stage 1 but that didn't work out for me. So now I'm thinking of booking either the Regal or Novotel hotel. If there's anyone interested in sharing a room at one of these places that would be great. I'm planning to stay there for 2 nights arriving September 14, leaving September 16. Please send me a PM if you're interested and that will save us a couple of bucks!
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Jerry Lee
Hi,
I have just one question: could I have more possibilities if I got a PPL with at least 120 hours?
I have just one question: could I have more possibilities if I got a PPL with at least 120 hours?
Also, the recruitment lady stressed to keep them updated with your hours, so I believe that it can be a factor to get you in.
In the end, it all comes down to how they think about you during the interviews. If you have 0 hours and will be able to persuade them that you love flying, then the PPL is probably not necessary. But the PPL can help to show your interests.