DESO/DEFO hiring
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The new 3 year BOP is finalized and plans for a 3% growth in 2010. As for crews, the DFO mentioned to upgrade more SO's than needed to JFO to keep the SO intake from the cadet program going. It is highly unlikely that there will be any DESO/DEFO hiring happening in 2010.
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edawg, if there's "only" 3% projected growth with crewing needs already met for 2010, I'd venture out to guess us in the DESO pool are focked. Having said that, I haven't seen anything official so I'm just going to sit and wait for the bad news. But any news is better than no news, right?
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Air Berlin???
Hey folks
Came across this for Air Berlin and just thought this might help you folks who are waiting and not found anything in the mean time.
"Air Berlin said it is seeking to recruit 700 flight attendants and 120 pilots. The new employees would be based in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Munster/Osnabruck, Nuremberg, Paderborn-Lippstadt and Stuttgart in Germany as well as Basel/Muhlhausen and Zurich in Switzerland, AB said. It currently operates 129 aircraft. It has retired all of its 737 Classics and plans to ground two 757s and one 767-300ER by the end of January. It is expecting to take delivery of 26 aircraft in 2010.
Seperately, AB said it became the first airline to receive approval from German aviation regulator LBA to deploy GLS technology on its flights."
I hope this helps someone somehow. Keep the chin up...
Disclaimer: I do not work for Air Berlin in case any of you were wondering
Just another wannabe... 
Cheers
Came across this for Air Berlin and just thought this might help you folks who are waiting and not found anything in the mean time.
"Air Berlin said it is seeking to recruit 700 flight attendants and 120 pilots. The new employees would be based in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Munster/Osnabruck, Nuremberg, Paderborn-Lippstadt and Stuttgart in Germany as well as Basel/Muhlhausen and Zurich in Switzerland, AB said. It currently operates 129 aircraft. It has retired all of its 737 Classics and plans to ground two 757s and one 767-300ER by the end of January. It is expecting to take delivery of 26 aircraft in 2010.
Seperately, AB said it became the first airline to receive approval from German aviation regulator LBA to deploy GLS technology on its flights."
I hope this helps someone somehow. Keep the chin up...
Disclaimer: I do not work for Air Berlin in case any of you were wondering
Just another wannabe... Cheers
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Any new correspondance from anyone in the past month?
Last time I checked was 2 months ago, they were still on the "no change in recruitment plans as of yet for DESO poolies"
Last time I checked was 2 months ago, they were still on the "no change in recruitment plans as of yet for DESO poolies"
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Nah, nada.
Will certainly pass along when I do hear anything. I was planning on contacting them mid Jan if I don't hear anything by then. My hopes aren't terribly high, seeing all the cadet recruitment, sans housing. In fact I wonder if the next update will be a 'thanks but no thanks' letter
Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Will certainly pass along when I do hear anything. I was planning on contacting them mid Jan if I don't hear anything by then. My hopes aren't terribly high, seeing all the cadet recruitment, sans housing. In fact I wonder if the next update will be a 'thanks but no thanks' letter
Guess we'll have to wait and see.
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The only induction courses on the CX training plan for 2010 is for Cadets.
None for the Airbus, 16 on the 744 and 24 on the 777.
DE pilots will have to wait until 2011 at the earliest.
None for the Airbus, 16 on the 744 and 24 on the 777.
DE pilots will have to wait until 2011 at the earliest.
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I was told by HR a few options for DESO pool have been discussed (modified expat package, commuting option, local package etc.), and that no official decision has been made regarding the pool. However, if the training plan shows only cadets, and the longer we go onto the new training cycle, the less likely we'll ever get the call.
IMO, at best we'll be offered local package + chump change for a latte at Starbucks, after a shortened re-interview/sim; the other more likely option is by end of 2010, we'll be told kindly to keep our files up to date, for potential hiring in 2012.
And here I was already buying the Breitling/RM Williams/Mont Blanc accessories and practicing how to make the bunk and who drinks from which mug. All a wasted effort. Damn it.
IMO, at best we'll be offered local package + chump change for a latte at Starbucks, after a shortened re-interview/sim; the other more likely option is by end of 2010, we'll be told kindly to keep our files up to date, for potential hiring in 2012.
And here I was already buying the Breitling/RM Williams/Mont Blanc accessories and practicing how to make the bunk and who drinks from which mug. All a wasted effort. Damn it.
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T-mass, have faith!
One of the things I have learned in 2 decades of airline flying, is that when things finally start to happen, they will happen quickly, and the last people to act are those employed by airline recruitment.
I think that HR spin regarding reduced terms/commuting packages etc is just the usual "testing the waters" etc. The reality, with recruitment of CX Cadets now opened up outside HKG etc is probably in the opposite direction, towards a '"status-quo" in the short term and small improvements in the medium term.
But if HR hints at something really interesting then please tip of the HKAOA, either directly (anonymously if you wish) or via a mate/contact etc!
DE pilot recruitment will start again one day. Currently it does not seem likely for 2010, but it is very probable for 2011, unless the global economic recovery does a u-turn.
It is interesting to note that the DE pilot recruitment team, who are all contract staff have been kept on throughout the downturn of the past year. Note also, that they are a totally separate team from the Cadet recruitment people. So basically, CX is paying to keep a dedicated team of recruitment staff on hand at a time when they are not expecting to recruit for the next 12 months. Why?
CX obviously think there is a chance things could change quickly, and are willing to pay a few extra salaries "just in case". Also, they may want to have a team ready to "wade through" the millions of out of date applications when they finally get the clearance to recruit.
My advice to guys/girls in the "pool" is to keep up regular contact, by letter, email and sometimes by patiently-polite phone call. Tell them you are keen, still motivated and above all available to start (next week).
The most important attribute is motivation. If you want it, you can get it. Demanding or expecting the job are not the correct mind-sets for CX.
One of the things I have learned in 2 decades of airline flying, is that when things finally start to happen, they will happen quickly, and the last people to act are those employed by airline recruitment.
I think that HR spin regarding reduced terms/commuting packages etc is just the usual "testing the waters" etc. The reality, with recruitment of CX Cadets now opened up outside HKG etc is probably in the opposite direction, towards a '"status-quo" in the short term and small improvements in the medium term.
But if HR hints at something really interesting then please tip of the HKAOA, either directly (anonymously if you wish) or via a mate/contact etc!
DE pilot recruitment will start again one day. Currently it does not seem likely for 2010, but it is very probable for 2011, unless the global economic recovery does a u-turn.
It is interesting to note that the DE pilot recruitment team, who are all contract staff have been kept on throughout the downturn of the past year. Note also, that they are a totally separate team from the Cadet recruitment people. So basically, CX is paying to keep a dedicated team of recruitment staff on hand at a time when they are not expecting to recruit for the next 12 months. Why?
CX obviously think there is a chance things could change quickly, and are willing to pay a few extra salaries "just in case". Also, they may want to have a team ready to "wade through" the millions of out of date applications when they finally get the clearance to recruit.
My advice to guys/girls in the "pool" is to keep up regular contact, by letter, email and sometimes by patiently-polite phone call. Tell them you are keen, still motivated and above all available to start (next week).
The most important attribute is motivation. If you want it, you can get it. Demanding or expecting the job are not the correct mind-sets for CX.
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jonathon,
thanks for the words of encouragement. i plan on doing just as you explained, bugging HR on a regular basis. nicely enough i've always received a prompt reply to whatever question i may have had.
and i do keep my hope up to a certain degree for an "earlier rather than later" classdate. but with onset of international cadet hiring, it seems DESOs with the old expat package are a thing of the past. how are we, pilots with prior airline/professional aviation experience and due to it, some "demands" for compensation, to compete with young cadets who haven't invested a dime in their careers so far (now cadet applicants, don't get your panties all in a bunch, i know some of you have ratings etc etc)? it seems our experience and track record are not worth the expat package anymore. and no, i'm not blaming anyone, it is what it is.
also, i highly value the interview experience. and this might bring me some heat from the CX-haters, but being able to pass the interview, was a boost of confidence for me. if i can get a "yes" from CX, then "lesser" int'l long haul outfits are within reach as well.
thanks for the words of encouragement. i plan on doing just as you explained, bugging HR on a regular basis. nicely enough i've always received a prompt reply to whatever question i may have had.
and i do keep my hope up to a certain degree for an "earlier rather than later" classdate. but with onset of international cadet hiring, it seems DESOs with the old expat package are a thing of the past. how are we, pilots with prior airline/professional aviation experience and due to it, some "demands" for compensation, to compete with young cadets who haven't invested a dime in their careers so far (now cadet applicants, don't get your panties all in a bunch, i know some of you have ratings etc etc)? it seems our experience and track record are not worth the expat package anymore. and no, i'm not blaming anyone, it is what it is.
also, i highly value the interview experience. and this might bring me some heat from the CX-haters, but being able to pass the interview, was a boost of confidence for me. if i can get a "yes" from CX, then "lesser" int'l long haul outfits are within reach as well.
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I doubt that DESO's are a dying breed.
Firstly there are limits to the cadet scheme. After >20 years the scheme only graduates about 40 Cadet's from flying school into the airline as S/O's each year. With the switch from HKG resident-only recruitment, to international candidates (with a connection to HKG), they will boost Cadet intake from 40 to about 60 per year. After interviews, flight grading and Adelaide, it's about 2 years before a Cadet gets anywhere near a CX flight deck.
With the exception of periodic hiring freezes (9-11, SARS, etc) annual recruitment targets have ranged between 120-200 per year. So basically, DE pilots are recruited in the expansion years.
With changes to the Flight Time Limitations system over the next year or so, it is likely that S/O's will be needed less for Australia and Middle East type flying. But ULH services to Europe and North America are likely to be expanding at the same time, so losses and gains will balance out.
Firstly there are limits to the cadet scheme. After >20 years the scheme only graduates about 40 Cadet's from flying school into the airline as S/O's each year. With the switch from HKG resident-only recruitment, to international candidates (with a connection to HKG), they will boost Cadet intake from 40 to about 60 per year. After interviews, flight grading and Adelaide, it's about 2 years before a Cadet gets anywhere near a CX flight deck.
With the exception of periodic hiring freezes (9-11, SARS, etc) annual recruitment targets have ranged between 120-200 per year. So basically, DE pilots are recruited in the expansion years.
With changes to the Flight Time Limitations system over the next year or so, it is likely that S/O's will be needed less for Australia and Middle East type flying. But ULH services to Europe and North America are likely to be expanding at the same time, so losses and gains will balance out.
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Cathay Pacific
Talked to HR at CX and they said that they increased the retirement age and did not expect to hire any DEFO during year 2010. During the conversation it sounded like they weren't sure what they will do with all the people in the pool.
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Johnathon 68,
The DE recruitment team (if you call 2/3 people a team) are helping out with the CPP. They aren't just sitting down on their arses twidling their thumbs. There is plenty of work to go around with CPP.
DESO is over. DEFO will be there in very small numbers end of next year. NO plans at all to get rid of DEFO. The experience you get from DEFOs, especially ex-military experience and the high standards that come with that type of calibre is what CX is built on.
Also, with a starting date close to graduation dates, a cadet will start on the line from as early as 17 months after starting at Adelaide.
The DE recruitment team (if you call 2/3 people a team) are helping out with the CPP. They aren't just sitting down on their arses twidling their thumbs. There is plenty of work to go around with CPP.
DESO is over. DEFO will be there in very small numbers end of next year. NO plans at all to get rid of DEFO. The experience you get from DEFOs, especially ex-military experience and the high standards that come with that type of calibre is what CX is built on.
Also, with a starting date close to graduation dates, a cadet will start on the line from as early as 17 months after starting at Adelaide.
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No DEFO in 2010 is the official word - possibly 2012, but highly doubtful. Single pilot ex-military pilots normally receive extra training - which is understandable because they now have to use CRM, etc.... Not knocking them, it is just a modified skill set.
Betbump5
How about the previous jet/turboprop experience the SO's have to bring to the party which also includes 2/3 years playing with CX SOPS. Having flown with many competant DEFO's and also very competant JFO's I cant see the difference.
I have not yet seen either a ex military pilot show me any more experience than a ex GA/ Regional pilot.
How about the previous jet/turboprop experience the SO's have to bring to the party which also includes 2/3 years playing with CX SOPS. Having flown with many competant DEFO's and also very competant JFO's I cant see the difference.
I have not yet seen either a ex military pilot show me any more experience than a ex GA/ Regional pilot.
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