Why I turned down Cathay Pacific (SO Transition)
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Well to be honest, I didn't have the money to go to ER. 
I did however get several scholarships which saw me through a portion of my time there. The rest was paid for by friends and friends of friends. So neither I nor my family had the money to put me through ER.
No i haven't thought it through. Just sounded like a great idea at the time. I wanted to do something different than live in an apartment and have to pay rent and utilities etc etc boring same stuff. Time for something new, a new experience. My first idea was to (now hear me out before you say "what" like Lil Jon) live in a tye dye microbus.
The boat idea was merely an extension of the same train of thought. I thought of that in the states when i was at ER. I could BARELY afford rent there and didn't know how to drive so that plan was out. BUT! If i were to do it all over again, I would learn how to drive and then live in a tye dye microbus...its not THAT off the wall kinda of an idea. Imagine how much you could save! The hippie in me loved this idea. If CX won't give SO Cadets a housing package, who says I have to live in a house?! Again, it just sounded like a good idea and i'm not sure its wise.
Come on. One of you out there has to have thought about doing something like this!
I did however get several scholarships which saw me through a portion of my time there. The rest was paid for by friends and friends of friends. So neither I nor my family had the money to put me through ER. No i haven't thought it through. Just sounded like a great idea at the time. I wanted to do something different than live in an apartment and have to pay rent and utilities etc etc boring same stuff. Time for something new, a new experience. My first idea was to (now hear me out before you say "what" like Lil Jon) live in a tye dye microbus.
The boat idea was merely an extension of the same train of thought. I thought of that in the states when i was at ER. I could BARELY afford rent there and didn't know how to drive so that plan was out. BUT! If i were to do it all over again, I would learn how to drive and then live in a tye dye microbus...its not THAT off the wall kinda of an idea. Imagine how much you could save! The hippie in me loved this idea. If CX won't give SO Cadets a housing package, who says I have to live in a house?! Again, it just sounded like a good idea and i'm not sure its wise.Come on. One of you out there has to have thought about doing something like this!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
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Lots of guys at CX live on boats but it is not really a cheaper option. You get more space for the money but have a boat to upkeep. You would not be allowed to live in a camper in HKG, water? Sewage? Elec? Again don't think you have thought it through or researched it.
Your Indian and got several scholarships to go to ER for a flying course. That is a good effort, I have a friend who is just starting to look for the way forward into a career in aviation. Could you give me the details of these scholarships so I can pass the info onto him and he can try to get some financial support.
Thanks.
Your Indian and got several scholarships to go to ER for a flying course. That is a good effort, I have a friend who is just starting to look for the way forward into a career in aviation. Could you give me the details of these scholarships so I can pass the info onto him and he can try to get some financial support.
Thanks.
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Hmmm I will see what I can do about the scholarships. It worked differently for me because I applied through the university. It was one general app that went out to all the donors of the school, who then chose who they would award it to. I know i have a consolidated word doc with all the scholarships I looked at somewhere. How will i get it to you? I don't see an attach option here. Perhaps you could give me your email address.
Oh AND...Multimedia | The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat | Living Aboard.net. One of the better sites I found. Very informative. Discovery Bay has a really nice marina, its the closest one I found to the airport. And if it works out to be more expensive that a flat (which i haven't looked into at all) then its back to the drawing board
Oh AND...Multimedia | The Essentials of Living Aboard a Boat | Living Aboard.net. One of the better sites I found. Very informative. Discovery Bay has a really nice marina, its the closest one I found to the airport. And if it works out to be more expensive that a flat (which i haven't looked into at all) then its back to the drawing board
Join Date: Aug 2009
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KO,
In case this isn't a wind up and you really were thinking about living on a boat....
In HK, only the wealthiest people can afford to live on boats. It isn't something one does in order to "save money"
Please don't say anything like that in your interview....
In case this isn't a wind up and you really were thinking about living on a boat....
In HK, only the wealthiest people can afford to live on boats. It isn't something one does in order to "save money"
Please don't say anything like that in your interview....
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Not a wind up. I'm just trying to come up with a never done before novel idea. Sigh. So is there no really really cheap way of living in HK then eh? Unless you have a very rich friend who'll pay for everything. Hmm. Btw, I haven't heard nix back from the CX HR folks who I wrote to last week. Any of you out there asked about the nitty gritty details about the SO package...benefits and pay? Lemme know.
Have no fear. I will not say anything like this or other outlandish thing during my interview.
Have no fear. I will not say anything like this or other outlandish thing during my interview.
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Praying in the Plane
It's about seeing the Business class pax to see a pilot praying in the plane so what??? And why it comes to muslim and people start talking about their prayers???
It's not that muslim pilots leave the cockpit and start praying as soon as prayers time is on! First of all prayers dont take hours just 5 minutes, and even if the pilot leaves for the 5 minutes it wont crash the plane, when the other pilot is sitting in the cockpit!! and First officers and Captain leave the cockpit to go to the Toilet, dont they?? Or they should sit in the cockpit and **** inside it? is thats what you are referring to??? No pilot is thats insane to put life of so many pax just to leave the cockpit unless it is safe to do so.
And no muslims dont need to find anyother profession as they many muslim airlines are flying safely around the world with best safety records.
Perhaps you people can talk something more substantial.
It's not that muslim pilots leave the cockpit and start praying as soon as prayers time is on! First of all prayers dont take hours just 5 minutes, and even if the pilot leaves for the 5 minutes it wont crash the plane, when the other pilot is sitting in the cockpit!! and First officers and Captain leave the cockpit to go to the Toilet, dont they?? Or they should sit in the cockpit and **** inside it? is thats what you are referring to??? No pilot is thats insane to put life of so many pax just to leave the cockpit unless it is safe to do so.
And no muslims dont need to find anyother profession as they many muslim airlines are flying safely around the world with best safety records.
Perhaps you people can talk something more substantial.
Last edited by lonestar2012; 9th Jul 2012 at 21:52.
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Dude...chill out. We're trying to help. You asked for an opinion and you got it. No need to get upset.
To be very honest, it would look weird if a pilot from any another faith left the cockpit to pray. Passengers should not have to see that. As a pilot, especially in these days of global paranoia, you gotta be damn careful how you act in front of your passengers. You have to be extremely professional. I'm not telling you not to pray, I'm telling you that it would be completely inappropriate to do in public; so stay in the cockpit if you can, or go to the crew quarters and pray there. You have to also take the culture of the country into account. Doing this in the USA would be difficult, no explanation needed there. If you were to do this while flying for Etihad or Qatar, not as big a deal, merely because its seen as normal and thus is accepted.
I'm sure that if praying was a major safety issue, which i personally don't think it is, then there would be strict rules about it (I haven't found any). You're right, the same rules apply when one pilot leaves the cockpit to go to the bathroom.
Basically, whatever you leave the cockpit to do, don't do it in front of your passengers, they may not like it, and its not professional.
Happy Landings
To be very honest, it would look weird if a pilot from any another faith left the cockpit to pray. Passengers should not have to see that. As a pilot, especially in these days of global paranoia, you gotta be damn careful how you act in front of your passengers. You have to be extremely professional. I'm not telling you not to pray, I'm telling you that it would be completely inappropriate to do in public; so stay in the cockpit if you can, or go to the crew quarters and pray there. You have to also take the culture of the country into account. Doing this in the USA would be difficult, no explanation needed there. If you were to do this while flying for Etihad or Qatar, not as big a deal, merely because its seen as normal and thus is accepted.
I'm sure that if praying was a major safety issue, which i personally don't think it is, then there would be strict rules about it (I haven't found any). You're right, the same rules apply when one pilot leaves the cockpit to go to the bathroom.
Basically, whatever you leave the cockpit to do, don't do it in front of your passengers, they may not like it, and its not professional.
Happy Landings
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The thing is, you can pray later. Lightning will not strike you down if you miss a prayer or two. In fact, nothing will happen, ever. Go to the toilet and pray. As you are only allowed to leave the flight deck for physiological reasons, who'll know???
I'm not sure that crew praying in the first class cabin would go down too well with most pax, particularly outside of Muslim majority countries. The pax are paying us substantial money to perform a specific task. How about a Buddhist waiter meditating next to the table he is serving at the Savoy? at the end of the day, we are being paid to perform the role and project the image required by the employer, flight and cabin crew alike. It is not religious intolerance, it is business.
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There are many pilots who pray while taking rest and No they dont have to pray in the toilet! no one can force anyone to pray in the toilet. Sure lightning wont strike, if a prayer is missed. I dont know what type of culture is there in CX. I am sure any pilot who wants to pray would himself make sure to pray out of Pax sight.
The only problem I have is why if CX is going to Pakistan, and suddenly someone mentioned how a pax would react seeing a pilot praying in the business class. It only shows lack of tolerance. I am not going further into this discussion, You guys carry on with your routine discussions.
The only problem I have is why if CX is going to Pakistan, and suddenly someone mentioned how a pax would react seeing a pilot praying in the business class. It only shows lack of tolerance. I am not going further into this discussion, You guys carry on with your routine discussions.
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@Paultheparaglider
Thanks for the response.
When I was there though the tv always said Tung Chung had the lowest pollution levels. It may have been the season I was there during, however, it's irrelevant now.
I've changed career paths long ago. I'm just here watching dreams of expats die.
Working for CX is great if you can live with your parents or if you already own property there... that's about it.
It seems like any new hires for CX that aren't complaining about the low pay are people who are doing it for show. People who have rich parents who wanted their kids to do something. Relatively smart people who want to bang more chicks. People who enjoy traveling but don't realize flying for airlines isn't the same... essentially people who go to university to get a degree for the sake of getting a degree; they're people who get into CX to impress their parents enough to have a decent share in the inheritance.
Thanks for the response.
When I was there though the tv always said Tung Chung had the lowest pollution levels. It may have been the season I was there during, however, it's irrelevant now.
I've changed career paths long ago. I'm just here watching dreams of expats die.
Working for CX is great if you can live with your parents or if you already own property there... that's about it.
It seems like any new hires for CX that aren't complaining about the low pay are people who are doing it for show. People who have rich parents who wanted their kids to do something. Relatively smart people who want to bang more chicks. People who enjoy traveling but don't realize flying for airlines isn't the same... essentially people who go to university to get a degree for the sake of getting a degree; they're people who get into CX to impress their parents enough to have a decent share in the inheritance.
No desperate situations, only desperate people . . .
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Ok...a bit off the topic... i was walking through HKIA.. bored as usually..surping my coffee and being a nusiance... I noticed on two separation occasion, young chinese(locals) pilots supporting mohawk haircuts.. well it was a slightly over grown mohawk...i thought it was the last of the mohicans, chinese version... hahaha.. I thought there is a dress code... ok aleast a clean shirt, shower and shave..but the hair didnt look professional... in any case... i was going to give the kid an extra few HK$ so he can go back to the salon and finish his hair cut. but i thought he was going to scalp me.
ok back to prevering and you lot can go back to argueing about CX...
ok back to prevering and you lot can go back to argueing about CX...
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"young chinese(locals) pilots supporting mohawk haircuts.."
I'm afraid you are mistaken..... These days cadet pilots are so poor that they get their hair cut in installments!
I'm afraid you are mistaken..... These days cadet pilots are so poor that they get their hair cut in installments!
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lucky for these cadets.. that a crotch wax is not needed.. wax/shaving half is not CX standard.. or is it... hmmmm.. there goes your landing strip. more like a bush landing... hahaha
