Something to think about (but if you truly had read every page of this thread you'd know the answer):

Whats say I'm rich & have decided it'd be a cool thing to occupy my spare time in the real estate market. I'll buy all the houses around your rental properties & rent them out for around 60% less than you. I'll be undercutting the market & screwing you over. But you see, it's my "passion".

I mean, what do I care if it screws up your income, livelihood or that local market? After all, I'm rich, can afford to do it, it won't affect me & it's just something that looks like fun for a while....

I'm really, really passionate about real estate. Hope you don't mind though. :ugh:

PS: I submitted my purchase approval to the council housing department almost 2 hours ago! When will they reply to me???? But what if I don't have any property experience, can I still buy? And what about nationality about buying property? Can I get involved? Is there an age limit to get involved? I mean, it would be INSANE for me to actually call the Housing Department to get 100% accurate information!!

AIRBUS or Boeing ?
 

say u got hired by CX, can you choose if you want to pilot airbus or boeing airplanes ?
and does one know how many days out of one month do u work as a pilot ?



p.s i personally want to operate airbus aircraft cuz i want to get my hands on the new a350 !!!


thx

Actually you go on a Boeing aircraft or the Airbus fleet. Airbus guys start on the 340 and after about a year also fly the 330. The plan with the 350 is to have guys flying both the 330 and 350 whilst CX get rid of the 340. I would really advise against asking to go on the Airbus as an SO, 4 years of much shi:mad:r rosters compared to the other.

chinabeached, are flying on a permanent contract for an airline?

Hello, i'm new here and would just like to ask a few questions for those who have had experience/been successful.

I'm really really interested in the second office cadet programme but have no previous experience in flying. I've always loved planes and dreamt as a child to be able to fly one one day. However, due to facilities where I live in the UK, I never had the opportunity to become involved in aviation.

I know that there is a programme for those who have low flying experience but not sure if they accept those who have none. I do meet all the criteria they want/prefer: I am british born chinese with first language English Cantonese 2nd language), Full permanent HKID, Achieved the GCSE/A-Level required and working towards a degree, Good fitness and health, 173cm height, 20 years of age and I definitely have the passion they require to become part of their team.

Please help me out on a few questions I want cleared up and give me some helpful tips on applying. Thanks in advance:

1) When does the 61 week training start? I'm currently in my final year of university and will (hopefully) graduate in summer 2013. Is it ok to try applying now even though I won't be able to begin any sort of training for another year?

2) Are there interview facilities in UK? I won't be heading back to hong kong for a year or two now (unless it's crucial to go there for the interview)

I would really appreciate for someone to help answer these questions and also give me some helpful tips. Thanks so much.

ICAO English Test
 

Dear mates,

I have heard that the ICAO test format has been changed recently after the leave of Brian Slade. For example, the vocab part was removed, and it will be like an interview JUST asking some casual questions.

Anyone got more information about this bloody test? I will attend it in a week, so need help urgently!! :ugh::ugh:

Thanks in advance!

best thing is just try and relax and pay attention during the test. Your english seems pretty decent and its really a test to see if you can understand english and use english in other settings.

When i did mine a couple years back it included:

- Explaining words/phrases
- Listening to recordings of conversations in different accents and explain what was going on
- Explain a picture
- Pick items from a list and explain why you chose them
- Watch a short video and explain what happened etc.

The hardest bit is probably listening to the recordings as the accents can be quite strong so you will have to pay close attention to what is being said.

thanks orangeboy.

what i meant by last message was that the format you mentioned had been changed few weeks ago.....

so no more explaining words/phrases/a picture, picking something from a list ... while i'm not sure if the video recording part is still there or not...

Flight grading ADL
 

I have cleared my stage 2 in Hong Kong.
Anyone having Flight grading feedback?

ICAO English Test - now better
 

The ICAO English test at CX has changed for the better. After my last test Brian recommended me attend presentation classes, watch American comedy shows and talk about strange topics like Lady Gaga which I thought was wierd, eh? This did not prepare me for the test I did last week.

I love aviation and flying and I know Brian lied to me because all my friends say I communicate well. I did study in England after all.

The test I did last week included general questions about aviation topics; questions on the topics heard on audio conversations; aviation picture description and related questions and aviation video description and related questions.

The ladies in the test room relaxed me and I felt good because I was talking about my favourite topic – flying. I feel it is fair to be asked questions about aviation. This is the career we are preparing for.

I was recommended to look at the following sites to develop my aviation English skills on a continue basis: "skybrary", "LiveATC.net", "ATC readback" and "Air Crash Investigations"

I think the people who now do the testing really want us to succeed, and my advise to you is go out and start learning English for Aviation. Anyone you have to buy coffee, lunch or dinner for is not interested in helping you succeed in your dream to be a pilot.


Please reply your feelings below::=

Greg A380 : Join date Aug, 2012
Post : 1

Come on do you think people are blind? Are you from one of those aviation English organizations which give course on ICAO english? This looks like just another attack on Brian Slade :ugh: and a piece of advert.

Anyway, i don't know if the ICAO test has really changed but i will take this guy's words with a pinch of salt. :} Mind you!

Ask the CX ICAO test team
 

If you choose not to believe me that's up to you.

You could always go and ask the people who deliver the test instead. They don't bite.......then you will know for sure. Communication is the key!:)

Now now..he/ she is only trying to help.

Compass Test
 

the compass test is done during your flight grading.u will have a tech written (multiple choice) maths test and a lot of other stuff to do in compass test.its approximately 90-120 mins depending on the candidate. i am not sure if its the same for cadet program but i had to give the compass test when i was down there for the advanced entry flight grading.

Hi Greg A380 , thanks for the info. I do believe you, in fact the exam format you described closely match from what I heard from the peoples who are waiting for a retest, mind sharing more detailed info on the new format? (Especially the area we need to pay attention)

Thanks for sharing

chan1008

Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 4

I will attend the ICAO test soon and will know if anyone is lying. :mad:

Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme
 

Hi, I was asked to send the application form by May 12, 2012 and I've still not heard back from Cathay. I wanted to ask about how long it takes for them to reply back?

Re-Do Reasoning test
 

Hello guys,

I am invited for 2 nd interview in HK, and I am told to Re-Do reasoning test again, which I already did in my 1st interview. Has anyone been told to do Reasoning test again?

Thanks in advance.

Best would be to just confirm with them if you need to do it again through a simple email. :)

gone_with_the_wind..
Well...Good luck with your ICAO exam, and hopefully hearing some feedback from you after you completed the ICAO^^

reasoning test
 

yes there are a few guys who are asked to do the reasoning test again. nothing to worry about just do some online practice and u should be fine.

No need to practice reasoning test.

Just do the test, and get out.

Don't pretend to be someone you're not.

XLAN
GregA380's post was accurate and genuinely useful. Thanks for someone telling it like it is.

So XLAN, do you seem to dislike Aviation English organisations? Do you ever think that these standards are for your benefit and that you should be incredibly grateful to people that dedicate their time, experience and unique skill set to actually help people?

Or are you scared that companies like Aviation English Asia, have a very accurate impression of the very real lack of language proficiency among airline pilots.

ICAO English standards were introduced primarily for flight safety not to make money from poor HK locals who want to be pilots but think that focusing on English just for the test will help them.

I received abuse from Slade for 4 years. Some students betrayed me after being pressured by Slade. Slade evidently hates me, because we make him look incompetent. He is. And dishonest too. But I'm not the real victim. The real victim is the public that fly on these flights under the belief that current CX/KA pilots have an operational level of English. Brian Slade's interpretation of the ICAO LPRs in Document 9835 is so absurd that any competent member of a rating organisation would cringe. Here's an example "there is no grammar in the icao test, you just need a good structure- like a beginning, middle and end".

Thanks for this great advice Brian. I'll tell that to your children when they take their HKCEE.

Slade deserves to be publicly criticised on these forums not only because he is a liar, a defamer, and a fraudster peddling irrelevant and useless english classes that are completely inadequate for the purpose sold. He is exploiting the ignorance of Hong Kong people and the Chinese culture of bribery. Brian Slade and Marcus DeSantis have created a culture of intimidation, where pilots are afraid of losing their job for fear of reporting what happens.

If you think that bribing an assessor is an appropriate behaviour for a pilot then just go and give your money to Brian Slade, James Strang and Marcus DeSantis because honestly you would never ever enjoy what we do on our courses.

Do you want to know something else? Professional Aviation English teachers don't hang out in Starbucks or baptist university. We spend 8-12 hours a day talking to real pilots, ATCs and people in the industry. We learn and study aviation constantly. We have to, because we are pilots affected by the lack of language proficiency in commercial aviation too. But despite the need it's hardly a goldmine - it's incredibly difficult work.

Some days we don't even have time for adverts. But airlines like our values, and they like our students so to be honest our students are the best advert we could ever hope for.

Hi. I'm a third year university student in the UK. Would it be too early to send out an application before I've actually graduated?

Also, how much do they expect you to know for the initial interview if you have had no aviation experience whatsoever?

Thanks

Are you being serious?

After 5 years at CX not once have I thought another pilots English was even slightly unsatisfactory.

How many years have you been flying for CX?

If the answer is none, which I think is highly likely, you need to wind your neck in as obviously do not know what you are talking about making comments such as that.

If someones English is not satisfactory I highly doubt they will only fail because of the ICAO test. The interviews are all in English, if it is not up to standard this is where the biggest problem with language skill will be.

No offence taken, but I do know exactly what I'm talking about and strive every day to solve these problems. There are five main reasons for the lack of proficiency.

1. The previous ICAO test did not test operational language and Slade created a washback effect wherein focus was on the test not on genuine language proficiency outside of the limit of the test. This incidentally had not changed in five years.
2. ICAO level 4 as a global standard is not exactly great. It is illegal for an airline to insist on a higher standard.
3. Culture
4. Attitude of language professionals that think they know everything.
5. Attitude of aviation professionals that think they know everything.

When you have first and second officers that can't distinguish "there are fumes in the cabin" from "there are films in the cabin", or can't distinguish common words you have a problem.

Interviews are sometimes a good tool for assessing language proficiency, and I do partially agree with you there, but there are some things that a need a language test with some scientific data behind it.

Also language proficiency can deteriorate - there are many reasons why. If your experience within CX has been different then good for you. I hope it stays that way, but please consider that there are language professionals that are trying to improve communications and changing the attitude of people that don't know what they don't know is our biggest battle.

Hey guys..
I submitted a application in June,but up to now not had any reply :-(
How long does it usually take for a response presuming you do if your unsuccessful???

Just be patient. Most people wait 6-12 months for an interview.

HKID holders or people with considerably more experience can normally expect a reply sooner (but not always).

Also depends on which program you have applied to and where you put your preferred location to be.

greatbattle

Ask to speak to Eric or Rachel. I will try to find a specific email and phone number for you. My understanding is that actual ratings were not given until you had received the offer and were about to go on your adventure weekend before Adelaide. I thought that you just got an invitation for an eye test or the next stage if you scored above ICAO level 4.

In my view everyone who got an ICAO level 1,2,3,4,5 or 6 in the previous test should consider that rating as worthless and not an accurate representation of their actual proficiency. If you get a 4 or above in the new test I believe that (based on recent data and those now involved) it is accurate. If you are ICAO level 4 in the new test, that probably means your English still needs work - it's the bare legal minimum to fly.

The ICAO level 4 standard was only set because a lot of old ex-military pilots in russia, china and south america had very little chance of reaching level 5 so the research group that initially advised ICAO settled on 4 as a reasonably achievable global level. Most of those guys already knew how to fly, they just needed to learn how to do it in English. For a Cathay cadet pilot you have to be capable of learning how to fly in English, plus a whole lot of other stuff that isn't in the ICAO descriptors.

If there is a delay in getting feedback, it's probably because of the massive overhaul needed of the system. They also need to retest current FO/SOs which is probably a higher priority than cadet icao tests. In the interim you can always message me, set up a consultation and I'll tell you informally if you are way below 4, borderline 3/4 or approaching 5 based on global benchmarks and a few things that you can or can't do.

Another point mentioning is that if you are level 3 that doesn't mean that you can't do more practice and then retry in 3-6 months. If that is the case you have more chance of getting a level 5 (well, you would if you are an AEA student). There is no pressure to do anything with a specific provider and you can take your time, prepare more and enjoy improving your English.

AEA students that spend 2-6 months doing classes maybe two or three times a week tend to do very well, and absorb a lot of Cathay character from our teachers.

You cannot study for an aptitude test. It is not knowledge, it's something you've either got, or you haven't.

kawcraft

That has to be the most asinine question I've ever seen asked on any forum, ever.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, don't. Don't do anything in aviation. Stay away from airports, pilots, propellers, engines, metal, composites, air, wind tunnels, everything. Everything.

Cx
 

Any news on cx ab initio interviews for non hkid holders who were in the interview process prior to the hkid ruling by the immigration but have been left in a waiting pool?
Any rumour of an appeal for such a case?:rolleyes:

there is no appeal unless government chances their mind about the legislation. :sad:

For the latest information I received, they split the initial test into two.

Initial A: Technical MC Questionair (45min)
Compass Aptitude Test (90min)
If you pass, you will be notified within 2 weeks time and be invited to initial B on another day.

Initial B: Reasoning Test
HR and Technical Interview
CPP Personality Test

Hope I can go through the initial A on Tuesday:)
I received their new arrangement just one week before the assessment :hmm:

CP54
 

Anyone on CP54 starting in November please PM me.

with regards to the holding pool, plenty of people are being placed on CP courses, if you were at stage 1 or beyond before the legislation was implemented then you will be ok.

lucky86 did you make it to CP54?
If you did congratulation.
Any tips you can share for the flight grading?

Midnight Cobra (WTF)

Trying to get around a system is the way they got themselves into such an enormous mess with basings.
HK Immigration has been pretty clear with them so I don't think what you are suggesting would be considered.
They have already tried it anyway, 0hrs - instructor in ADL then work with FTA for 3 years, then get f*(#$ over by CX when they change the contract on you.
Your plan would only work for Aus residents anyway as the Aus Gov is not going to give a working visa to someone with no qualifications for them to "work" for FTA.
So many holes in your suggestion.
Just remember also that you will never get an Australian base either, from the DFOs mouth.

cx is not going to jump through all those hoops for you. simple as that

@lucky86
 

Congrats u got in!! which month did u apply and how long did u wait to get ur first stage notification?