anyone here going to the June 1st interviews in YVR?

Can anyone confirm the licenses we are gonna earn after the FTA training? HKCPL, HKMECIR, HKfATPL. anything else?

If you mean what you are gonna earn when you are a SO, check the website of CX itself.

Hi everyone, I am very new to this forum and I have a few questions that I hope someone can answer for me. Has anyone that has applied to the SO training programme without flying experience gotten a reply from CX? If so, is the first interview the same as the AE for the SO training programme? I have read quite a bit on the AE first interview and was wondering if there would be the technical component for the basic training first interview too.

Mental math test
 

Seen a lot of posts asking about the mental math tst for stage 2 but don't see much answers. Anyone know if it is aviation mental math questions or just general mental math questions? Thanks!

Been a month since my initial interview and still haven't had a reply from CX.
:(:(:(:(:(

3 weeks for me and none still.

who was in AMS in May for initial interview? anybody got a mail with results ?

Let's hope for the best!!

in May???

We done our interview in April, Wait your turn!!

lol :D

You mean "did" right.

yes, did.

lol.

well there goes my English Test.

It is not the mental math, you are given pencil and 2 papers for calculation. The mathes is divided into 2 part. part 1 is + - X / and 2nd part is 1 in 60.

good luck

cathay interview stage 2
 

Hi,

I passed myfirst interview in Paris in February 24th , I received an email onemonth after from Cathay who said “you have been shortlisted for theCathay Pacific Stage 2 Interview”. Since march 26th, I don’t haveany news about them, I sent several email and calls, and for the moment, Idon’t have any answer !! Does someone know what’s happen ???? or what’swrong ?? I ‘m waiting for 7 weeks now…

Thanks.

Lucky 86,
Not hearing for a month probably means that you were successful. I heard that if you hear earlier then it's unlikely that you passed.

Hope this helps,

cx-hopeful =)

Thanks for your support CX hopeful..

Will keep this forum (and potential CX hopefuls like us) up to date...

massive fingers crossed!

HKID
 

just thought that i would throw this out there as there is a ton of in correct information on this thread. Though perhaps this is why it is a rumor network. In any event: you DO NOT need your HKID card to be considered for the long course in FTAL. Even though it may say it on the cx website... Dont let this deter you from submitting your application blokes. As of the last few weeks there have been numerous applicants who have passed the stage 2 without the HKID card.

This is by far the best program for low time pilots out there. Do not let anyone discourage you from your dream. Good luck to all and hope to see you in cx one day!

Armstrong

Regarding the HKID issue:

No "ifs", "ands" or "buts", you need a permanent HKID if you're APPLYING for the long course.

The candidates who have "passed stage 2 without the HKID card" are either NOT long course applicants or passed stage 1 PRIOR to the Hong Kong Immigration Departments ruling on eligibility. The Immigration Deprtment is emphatic - NO long courses will be offered to unskilled applicants as they will NOT receive a visa on completion.

Rationalise it bud - unemployment in HKG at an all time high and foreign job seekers taking away opportunities from locals?

Too much "California gold" my friend.

Underpants

Thats an interesting point about the time frame in which they applied. I have left 2 of them a voicemail and will update the forums once i hear back.

I was able to get ahold of one lad from the uk and he applied in august, 1st interview in HK in Oct, 2nd in Dec, and now is being sent for flight grading. However in my 2nd stage interview/medical im near certain that there was a chap from singapore who had said he had gone from application to said point all in '12.

Though I may not agree with you on everything, I do agree that locals should be given first priority for the long course. (perhaps even priority for the short course & TT)

On a separate note: I wonder if instead of CX investing in the rumored dedicated runway, why not invest the 1Billion HKD in a fuel contract much the same way southwest did.

I'm sure that CX have investigated the possibility of refinery ownership. It's either too expensive or their "crystal ball" is saying something else. My guess is that that CX may get into bio-fuels - Swires have massive agricultural holdings that could easily expand into corn, rapeseed or other bio-fuel source materials.

The one thing you should understand about CX is that they are 100% reactive in their management style. There are no long term plans and "strategic" in a CX context is around 2 years.

It's a strength and a weakness - fast on their feet, quick to react but always behind the curve.

The guy from SIN may have a HKID. I know - positively - that the long program is only open to HK (permanent) ID holders...and rightly so IMHO.

By the way, CX is not paying for the 3rd runway, the HKSAR government/taxpayer (me) is. CX is in the process of building a massive new cargo terminal at CLK, right next to existing cargo facility.

It would without a doubt be great to see CX get into the bio-fuel industry. If close enough to CLK perhaps they could even then gain fueling contracts with other carriers. The possibilities seem endless and we could spend an eternity here theorizing all to no avail. "There are no long term plans and "strategic" in a CX context is around 2 years.:ugh:

Adelaide course length
 

Got an interesting couple of dates in my starter pack, seems like I'm only in Adelaide for 5weeks for a TT course. Anyone hear of them changing the course content or length of time there? Got some mates who spent the entire 14 weeks on a TT course, wondering why mines so short(relatively...).

Any info appreciated, K

CX stage 1 - reapply in 6 months time?
 

Hi all,

was just wondering, has anybody failed the CX stage 1 and then CX replied with an email asking you to reapply in 6 months time? (instead of the usual 12 months time)

and has anyone tried calling CX after failing stage 1 and asking to see what you could improve on? and does CX usually tell you the answer?


Many thanks!!!

They normally won't tell you where you failed directly, but may hint towards it if you probe enough.

Factually Hong Kong privacy laws (entrenched in the Basic Law) prevent disclosure of any sort. Don't even ask: you're asking the person on the other end of the line to break the law.

Yes, it may not be fair, but the interview is just that, not a test, you're either accepted, deferred or rejected.

I gave my 1st stage in april. Didnt get through. After reviewing, the tests went well, the interview was good, but not sure what was the reason for not getting accepted. Could be anything, not having enough IR or ME time, or not being current etc. Or maybe one wrong answer in the interview or something you said on the medical form. But anyway, I did email them and tried to ask if they could share the information. But havn't heard back from them.

Anyway, later I talked to couple of friends in HK who live there not pilots. They said the money CX would give is peanuts to live in HK. Besides that in the interview it was clearly stated that as a SO you wont be flying for say next 5-6 years at all. Just few Sim rides etc. It seemed like they want SO's just to take care of an requirement rather then to have quality trained pilots for future now.

Jack
 

Right.

So you applied for CX, went for the first interview, and failed.
To 'self esteem boost' yourself, you now knock the paying conditions of CX.
With that attitude, you should rethink why you didn't get accepted...

To clarify for others, For 'westerners' to live in hk with an expectation of a western lifestyle, then yes, your disposable income after rent is peanuts.

Western lifestyle = 3 bedroom house with a backyard.

Hk lifestyle = small 2 bedroom apartment.

"To 'self esteem boost' yourself, you now knock the paying conditions of CX.
With that attitude, you should rethink why you didn't get accepted..."

I couldn't agree more! They (CX) probably saw his personality shortcomings and wouldn't give him the second stage.

Underpants,

Would you be kind enough to share the language from the HK law(s) you allege where an employer is barred from disclosing information of any sorts?

It has always been my understanding an employer does not tell the applicant why they were not given the job to prevent any civil suit from the applicant for any reason.

Please enlighten me...

Luky86, Seems like the people who need help with their self esteem are those who take a poor paying, non-flying job thinking thier airline pilots. It's idiots like you who accept these kinds of vulgar work and pay conditions which has reduced the airline piloting career to the likes of a cab driver. If you'd have any balls at all you'd learn to fly for real then get a real job flying airplanes which means you have to make decisions and touch the controls on landing and takeoff and not just make the rest bunks up for the Captain! Why don't you ask what the real CX captains think of the SO coming onto to line. They wouldn't let these guys serve coffee to the passengers let alone touch the controls of a 747.

Jack

When you and a few chaps from fta combine your allowances your peanuts dont seem so small after all. Quite a lot of peanuts actually. 40,000 HKD/Month...

6 years Jack?.... 3 years 11 months +- 1 month

and with your 100,000 Euro sign on bonus... yes peanuts jack peanuts

im allergic to them anyways, terrible allergies

Anyone who dismisses this job as a waste of time and poorly payed is really quite short sighted. By joining an airline like Cathay Pacific you have to look long term. It's an investment in the rest of your career. Do you think you are going to be an SO for the next 40 years or something?
I don't know about you guys but I have aspirations of becoming a Captain, and I can't think of a better airline to do this at.
The money maybe what you call "peanuts" (i disagree) in the short term, but long term it goes up and up.
I find some of the posts here that slate this program quite lacking in any kind of thought.
Flying a metro liner is a job, joining Cathay is a career.
I'm not knocking hands on flying, I've done it for the last 5 years myself and had a blast. But now it's time to invest in the rest of my career and opportunities like this don't come along often.

I'm going for interview in late May. But as far as my research, there's really nothing extra that you need to study.

Just all the basics and it should be fine. This is my second time going through the interviews.

Good Luck

orangeboy
 

Yeah i called cx back and they told me that i need to be patient and that her colleague will call me and give me feedback on my stage 1 and tell me what i need to work on??

i had my interview on may 18 in HK and 2/8 (including myself) so far has gotten an email telling us to try again in 6 months time instead of 12 months..



have they reduced the time for us to reapply now or is it just for certain cases? any ideas anyone?

Vero, see if they'll put that in writing. You stand a much better chane of getting furloughed then you ever will getting promoted. Suggest you stick to the Metro because in 5 years you'll have thousands of more hours in the left seat which will allow you to join an airline as a real pilot and not as a slightly more knowlegable flight attndant. With CX you'll have no more flight time in 6 years then you do now. CX is not an investment in your future its a waist of time or don't you want to listen to the older folks who have experienced first hand?

@Robertson, why, if you are not thinking of applying to the scheme, are you on the forum specifically designed for potential candidates? Seriously, focus on something other than bad mouthing the CPP, perhaps your spelling? It's old news and it helps absolutely nobody.

Tupps, I follow a lot of forums. Didn't think I needed your permission to give an opinion. The truth does hurt for some I know. I'll make sure I submit my comments to you in advance to ensure it meets with your approval and you can continue to point out typo's.

I just got back from my stage 2. To answer your question, the HR lady there told me they are looking to hire 300 cadet pilots each year for the next three years as there is a lot of movement with the flight crew. ( lots of SOs moving to JFO and captains retiring) CX is looking to hire cadet pilots but you still have to be competent and meet their standards in order to move on through the stages. Hope this helps.

i follow road
 

that does help! great news for wannabes like us..

I would take what HR are saying with a huge grain of salt. They are just clerks being fed 'a line'.

In fact, at the moment CX is crying 'poor' and parking freighters. The future of the 747-400 fleet is looking doubtful. The shiny 777's arriving (and they don't stay shiny for long in the filthy South China air), may only be replacements.

Not many captains are retiring, the annual figure is barely in double figures, retirement age is now 65, and with anti-discrimination legislation, there may be no actual retirement age in the future.

From personal experience as a current CX captain, Hong Kong International Airport is becoming choked with traffic, severely limiting expansion of the hub. With any sort of bad weather about, even miles from the field, ATC is becoming chaotic and sometimes dangerous, with large numbers of aircraft in limited airspace and choked ATC frequencies.

Even when the third runway is built, the idiotic Mainland Chinese airspace restrictions will cap further expansion.

Overseas basings are under a cloud, and even if they were available to you there are double taxation issues and new joiners would be in the queue behind some 2,700 pilots in the pecking order. You will be condemned to live for most or all of your career in a very expensive city, always preparing for or recovering from jet lag and 'red eye' flights, in sub standard accommodation on a sub standard package.

Should your application be successful and you pass the training, you will be perceived by current crew as having accepted inferior conditions of service, and any complaints about lifestyle, remuneration, rosters or lack of promotion will be met with little sympathy.

What Captain Dart said is true. CX cargo isn't exactly doing well and if you're planning on joining the cadetship, plan on living in HK for the rest of your life. I guess what I'm trying to say is, the two days while I was at CX city, there were 12 candidates in both days ( stage 1+ stage 2) being interviewed. So they are interviewing and hiring! You just need to wait for your number to come up and when it does you need to capitalize the opportunity and show them the months and months of preparation that you've done.