Survey: Are you accepting their offer?
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Turned it down. Received what I took to be a form letter within about 5 minutes of sending them my email. Apparently enough people are turning it down that it is worth them coming up with a form letter at all!
Cathays response was simply that if I wanted another shot I would have to go through the whole application process again. Pity really as I would have loved to have flown for Cathay and lived in HK.
Cathays response was simply that if I wanted another shot I would have to go through the whole application process again. Pity really as I would have loved to have flown for Cathay and lived in HK.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I said no too... unfortunately the offer is not sufficient given the job and my experience. Plus the loan just stinks of training bond. N.American industry is supposed to pick up and it seems cx should be doing more (not less) to attract qualified talent, assuming they do indeed desire qualified talent.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Now with ULH using two SO's an FO and Cpt all they need are warm bodies.
The SO's will not be upgraded for, I reckon, 6-7 years. (I would shoot myself sitting and watching...even when I only had 200 hours).
I can not imagine not flying for 7 years then being put in the right seat and fly to any reasonable standard. But I am sure these new young guys have superman like flying skills...
The SO's will not be upgraded for, I reckon, 6-7 years. (I would shoot myself sitting and watching...even when I only had 200 hours).
I can not imagine not flying for 7 years then being put in the right seat and fly to any reasonable standard. But I am sure these new young guys have superman like flying skills...
Join Date: Aug 2008
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NO
Turned it down. Waited until the last minute, maybe hoping the numbers on the paper would change. No such luck. I must say I'm impressed by the backbone and integrity showed by my fellow DESO poolies by turning it down en masse. Its the only way things will get better. We're worth more than a C scale. Bravo gents!
Turned it down. Waited until the last minute, maybe hoping the numbers on the paper would change. No such luck. I must say I'm impressed by the backbone and integrity showed by my fellow DESO poolies by turning it down en masse. Its the only way things will get better. We're worth more than a C scale. Bravo gents!
Join Date: Sep 2010
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I have applied for the Cadet Pilot(SO program). Have not received a call yet. But given its a job where you just eat sandwich and save nothing. I wouldn't take it. Even though 33k HKD is as much as what a ATR captain gets paid here. Money is an important thing but more important is what I do as an employee.
If they was something to do during the flight as a part of the crew its a different thing. But reading how it goes, i would say NO.
If they was something to do during the flight as a part of the crew its a different thing. But reading how it goes, i would say NO.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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DO NOT accept this offer. Fine if you intend to remain single and have no kids but rarely is that the case. It's often the case you'll end up getting married and then eventually end up single anyway but with the headache of kids to pay for....
You will not create any wealth for yourself via these contracts but you'll create plenty for Swire Management. Stay where you are and wait for an opportunity at home, it WILL come. If you can do 10 years then maybe you'll be in a position to move on from CX but you'll need to be disciplined i.e. single, no kids. Hong Kong is expensive - think about your quality of life at home before you take the offer. The Expat B Scale SO scale is a joke but these new terms are a new low for CX. DO NOT come here with a family on these terms
You will not create any wealth for yourself via these contracts but you'll create plenty for Swire Management. Stay where you are and wait for an opportunity at home, it WILL come. If you can do 10 years then maybe you'll be in a position to move on from CX but you'll need to be disciplined i.e. single, no kids. Hong Kong is expensive - think about your quality of life at home before you take the offer. The Expat B Scale SO scale is a joke but these new terms are a new low for CX. DO NOT come here with a family on these terms
CX_777ER and others applying...(especially people with some serious TT),
Nobody knows what will happen to those who accept this ****e deal... you guys are the first lot who "face" this 6 year bond/forgivable loan BS...I personally think that about 30% will stay and 70% will leave as soon as they can (or just do a "runner"); please keep in mind that the Middle East will be out of reach after 6 years since they need 2000TT on heavy jets as an FO. So if you are planning to spend 4-5 years as an SO (useless time in the logbook) and a year as an FO you wont meet the requirements.
I have also heard from a source in ADL that CX is getting plenty of kids without flying experience (real cadets), but only got a few people on the advanced course and literally nobody for the short course.
Give it some time - CX will have to up the package to get experienced people back in the cockpit.
My 2 HK$ worth...
Nobody knows what will happen to those who accept this ****e deal... you guys are the first lot who "face" this 6 year bond/forgivable loan BS...I personally think that about 30% will stay and 70% will leave as soon as they can (or just do a "runner"); please keep in mind that the Middle East will be out of reach after 6 years since they need 2000TT on heavy jets as an FO. So if you are planning to spend 4-5 years as an SO (useless time in the logbook) and a year as an FO you wont meet the requirements.
I have also heard from a source in ADL that CX is getting plenty of kids without flying experience (real cadets), but only got a few people on the advanced course and literally nobody for the short course.
Give it some time - CX will have to up the package to get experienced people back in the cockpit.
My 2 HK$ worth...
Join Date: Apr 2008
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The biggest problem with the loan for the TT course is the upside is probably $80k usd with the downside being 140k. In other words after the opportunity cost of presumably getting no pay for the 3 months of training, after taxes, and after paying for your training out of the loan you are left with 80k. But if you want to leave CX prior to 6yrs you are stuck with a bill for 140k? That's not right... and what about the unknowns if you lose your medical, fail a checkride, etc. I'd hate to be on the short end of that stick.
Meanwhile the other SOs will have decent places... well I'd prefer not to do the exact same job as the last guy but for far less. That's not exactly a recipe for long term happiness. Once you're on a base housing is a moot point anyways right; well throw in the expected lengthening SO upgrade times along with the unknowns regarding basings and it seems the SOs joining today will be in HKG a while. After waiting for 2.5yrs for this job it was difficult to say no, but with the expected global growth it won't be hard to find something better. It's really too bad.. I guess they could always increase the T&C for those who join today but how likely is that when the company knows you can't even afford to quit for the next 6yrs.
Meanwhile the other SOs will have decent places... well I'd prefer not to do the exact same job as the last guy but for far less. That's not exactly a recipe for long term happiness. Once you're on a base housing is a moot point anyways right; well throw in the expected lengthening SO upgrade times along with the unknowns regarding basings and it seems the SOs joining today will be in HKG a while. After waiting for 2.5yrs for this job it was difficult to say no, but with the expected global growth it won't be hard to find something better. It's really too bad.. I guess they could always increase the T&C for those who join today but how likely is that when the company knows you can't even afford to quit for the next 6yrs.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Hi,
A couple of quick questions to any ladies or gentlemen working for the company at the moment. I've had my application in for a while now, updating every couple of months or so and received an e-mail last week inviting me for a SO interview in July in HK( I ticked FO/SO on original application but have been invited for SO interview).
Currently I have approx 3000 Total time, with around 2500 on A319/320 and ATPL. I work for a low cost carrier and am based outside the UK, I don't really have any great ambition to head to the sandpit and would like to return to the UK in the future.
With regard to my current levels of experience, how long could I expect to hold the position of SO before being upgraded to FO? Or is it even an option for direct entry FO position? It is also my understanding that currently SOs reside in HK, what would be the possibility/time frame of being based in London, after being upgraded to FO and is there much demand for such postings?
Thanks in advance.
DB
A couple of quick questions to any ladies or gentlemen working for the company at the moment. I've had my application in for a while now, updating every couple of months or so and received an e-mail last week inviting me for a SO interview in July in HK( I ticked FO/SO on original application but have been invited for SO interview).
Currently I have approx 3000 Total time, with around 2500 on A319/320 and ATPL. I work for a low cost carrier and am based outside the UK, I don't really have any great ambition to head to the sandpit and would like to return to the UK in the future.
With regard to my current levels of experience, how long could I expect to hold the position of SO before being upgraded to FO? Or is it even an option for direct entry FO position? It is also my understanding that currently SOs reside in HK, what would be the possibility/time frame of being based in London, after being upgraded to FO and is there much demand for such postings?
Thanks in advance.
DB
Join Date: Jan 2004
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It will be around 6 yrs...maybe longer....One quick question for you? have even looked at all other post in this site....You are being called for Icadet/SO, not DESO. Take a look at the T&C and you will see why people are not taking the offer. As for sandpit, they will take you as you are short on the Total time. please take time and read...Good luck.
Join Date: Oct 2010
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I hope I made the right Decision
After completeing the CX recruitment process, I have decided to decline cathay's offer for the Cadet Program. I have always been really excited about the prospect of working for CX, how ever I have lost my enthusiasm after considering all the information made available. I guess I am a bit lost now and not really to sure where to aim my sights as the Airline industry in Oz seams to be going dowhhill. To all those cadets that decide the conditions are suited to you, I wish you good luck. I certainly will be envious of you when you are sitting in a 777 and I am still beating around in a Chieftain. I hope that before signing a contract, you take the time to absorb all the information and put yourself into the day to day lifestyle that you can expect. Thankyou to all the guys that take time on here to post providing a valuable insight into life at CX. I hope your conditions are not eroded as a result of the actions of others. Then again, maybe things are not as bad as what some of you are making out.. Anyway, I will never know. I obviously have a few doubts, but overall I think I have made the right decision for me.
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