hi, exactly what do you mean by the ICAO test?

hi, there will be testing of your ability in mathematics in all stages of the interview process. During each interview you will be asked just a couple of maths questions by the interviewing Captains, examples are

1) if you are heading 135 degrees and wish to fly a reciprocal heading, what new heading do you need to fly?

2) if you're at 33,000 ft and intend to descend to sea level at a rate of 3,000 feet per minute, how long will the descent take?

The questions above are examples of actual questions asked during interviews, and are relatively simple, however, during the interview you will probably be a little nervous which will affect your performance. You will then likely be asked to explain how you came to your answer.

During the computer based aptitude testing at stage 2 of the interview process you will be given a series of simple subtraction equations complete with answer. Your task will be to state whether the answer is correct or incorrect. Your score is determined by how many you get correct and how fast you complete the test.

Additionally, during stage 2, there is a designated mathematics test. This test has 33 questions and you have 30 minutes to complete it. As with previous tests you have no calculator but are permitted a pen and paper. You are presented some information which may be in the form of a few sentences or a table/graph and are asked a few questions regarding this information. You then need to choose an answer from a possible sixteen. This test is fairly difficult, a good strategy is to look at the questions and if you are not sure just move on to the next as some are very easy compared to others. Don't waste time on a question you probably won't be able to answer as you may not have enough time to answer questions which you would work out almost instantly.

ICAO English Test
 

There are 6 level in ICAO English Test. Candidates have to get 4 out of 6 in order to work in a major airline, including Cathay Pacific Airways. In the test, it is simply testing your listening and speaking skills. I thought ICAO English test is an international test, and we have to get 4/6 during the interview. So, I am just wondering how can I prepare for it. I found that there are many courses and textbooks out there, but I am not sure which one is the most suitable.

CX ICAO English Test
 

You will need to do the following items during the ICAO English Test. You might do these tasks in a different order.

1. You will need to paraphrase 5-6 phrases provided by the assessor.

2. You will hear 7-8 conversations spoken with different accents, and you will have describe what you heard in the conversation and answer any follow-up questions the assessor may have for you.

3. A phrase will appear on the screen and you will need to define the phrase to the assessor. They will use some unusual words/expressions to trip you up.

4. You will be given a photo and asked to describe what you see in the photo. Follow-up questions are likely to be asked.

5. You will be given a scenario, then asked to select (from a list) an item to talk about. The item is related to the scenario.

6. You will watch a short video, after which you will be asked to explain what you saw in the video. Follow-up questions are likely to be asked.

Good luck!

holdmetight
 

Thanks holdmetight. So, do you have any suggestion how to prepare for the ICAO test? What kind of question/ phrase we will get in the exam. Is there any aviation/ technical question in exam? (or they simply test your English ability). What is the common terms in the exam.

I am appreciated for your help. Your information is so helpful to me!

btw is this the internal exam for CX CCP candidates only? is this same as the one we take it outside? And how long we will get a result after the ICAO test with CX?

cadetpilotwannabe
 

Hey there,

As far as I know, the english test does not involve any technical aviation english, nor are you required to answer any questions related to technical knowledge. Phrases they might ask you to define are idioms and expressions, for example, one of my friends was asked to explain what "crash-course" meant. Unless you can memorize an entire dictionary, otherwise the only preparation you can do is keep cool and try your best at the test.

Apparently you are not told your score, regardless if you passed or failed. If you passed then obviously you move onto Stage 2, and if you failed you will be asked to do 100 hours of English courses before attempting the ICAO test again. The CX ICAO test is an in-house test, and holding a current ICAO english rating does not exempt you from the test.

If anyone knows better than I do, please feel free to make corrections. Otherwise, good luck and try your best.

thanks holdmetight =) you are so helpful! So, which stage you are at right now?

Stuck at Stage 0. :rolleyes:

Applied 2 months ago, still waiting for them to get back to me. My availability for interviews in HKG doesn't seem to be doing me any favours... most probably because I am re-applying.

Have you been given a date for an ICAO test yet? If so, you have most probably passed Stage 1.

does reapplying disfavour you in anyway? i too just reapplied moments ago... gd luck everyone who's in the selection process.

holdmetight : when was ur last application?

dagger19
 

Re-application does not necessarily mean disadvantage, just a longer wait for an interview. HR needs to compare your new application with your previous one and determine whether you have "improved" significantly enough to warrant another selection. Given there are now thousands of applications from new international candidates, it is hardly surprising they might need more time to get back to us. To illustrate this point, I have a friend (another re-applicant) who waited 6 months until CX finally gave him an interview. Another friend of mine who had never applied before waited several weeks before getting an interview. Both friends did all their selections in HKG.

I last applied back in late 2007.

holdmetight
 

its really hard to determine how much you have improved from the application site there online. furthermore, we do have our life to live on. the most you can do might just be reading more abt aviation and trying some flight simulator.

holdmetight: you really took a long time to prepare for ur 2nd attempt. are you working related to aviation all these time?

Hey dagger19,

Improvements can come from a lot of sources, depending on what your weaknesses were. For example, if your weakness was lack of aviation knowledge, then reading more about aviation and joining some aviation-oriented activities such as the AAEP would be ideal. If your weakness was English, then joining some English courses would be good. If you failed the eye-hand coordination exercises then taking driving lessons could be the solution. The most important thing is to identify why you failed, and work hard at improving yourself. If you really have worked hard, HR will notice your efforts when you re-apply; just be sure to indicate your efforts in your application form/CV.

I'm glad I applied after 2 years instead of the published cool-off period of 12 months; I wouldn't have had enough time to improve had I applied that soon!

initial interview email
 

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know I just got an email tonight for the initial interview in Vancouver which is occurring in April. I applied way back in August, so the email was a little unexpected to say the least. Anyways if anyone else Van got this as well, PM me and we can chat

Good luck to everyone, time to hit the books!

Not yet... I am still waiting.... Hope I will get the invitation for ICAO test soon .... finger cross~

can any one please tell me when will cathy pacific start their cadetpilot programme.i am so much confused...i can understand the procedure..can any one help me cuz in website they said that they announced in sep2009....:ugh:

initial interview Vancouver
 

Hi everybody ! I'm new on this forum.

First off good luck to everyone. I hope as many of us as possible we'll get on this Cathay flight to Adelaide.....
And thanks again to Swine Facipic for the booklet. It's really helpful to get ready and to know in advance what to expect from the examiners.

Autopilot I'm also from Vancouver. I haven't gotten any email from Cathay yet but on the other hand I applied only 10 days ago so I guess I shouldn't expect to hear from them until late this year. Anyway did you get a phone call from them as well ? Or just the email ? And was the email directly from Cathay or was it from one of the HR staff ? Just asking to make sure I won't delete it by mistake :eek:.
Good luck to you man. Don't let the Olympics draw your attention away from booklet ;).

It has started. Just takes them a long time to reply to people, if you read this thread you would not be confused. If you are still confused after reading it probably think about another career.

Canadawings, just a email from the same email you recieved after submitting you app...yes and the olympics are keeping me busy here, but i will be making the time for sure to hit the books. best of luck

Advice on the ICAO English Test
 

Good information from holdmetight, and I can confirm that the ICAO English test used for cadets doesn't require aviation knowledge or radiotelephony. These skills would be tested in other ICAO English tests, but are not relevant to cadet entry pilots.

However you would probably find an aviation specific English course more interesting (and certainly a lot better for your motivation) than a general English course. The CX ICAO test uses the ICAO descriptors - pronunciation, structure, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency and interaction which aren't tested individually in other English tests. You will need to score a minimum of level 4 in each of these skills. If you score level 4 for each skill apart from pronunciation eg level 3, you would get a level 3 score.

Officially airlines need level 4 scores to be ICAO compliant, but I had a long chat with a nice lady in Cathay HR and she said they want cadets to have level 5. I've known retest candidates to be accepted with level 4 scores though.

Either way, aim for level 5 because you will need strong communication skills throughout the selection process and you don't want to have "borderline" level 4 scores which could slip to level 3 if you don't practice. Level 4 is the bare minimum anyway and many people (myself included) would say that it should be raised to level 5. It would be very difficult for some countries to meet the March 2011 deadline for ICAO compliance - so officially it's level 4.

I would add is that you should start improving your English early - even before you make an application. Some students have come to us a week before their ICAO test and expected a "magic pill" that will enable them to jump to level 5 overnight. If you are already at level 4, then achieving level 5 won't take too long, but the difference between ICAO level 3 and ICAO level 4 is massive. Depending on where you are on the ICAO scale, going from level 3 to 4 could take up to 200 hours.

If you are not sure of your current level, we offer a placement test that will give you a lot of insight into which areas you should improve. I recommend this to every non-native speaker applying to the cadet programme, as it can save you time and money.

This article on our blog should be helpful in developing learning strategies. You will find that the "educational environment" in Hong Kong is very much focused on passing tests - rather than developing actual functional competence in English. The way that you prepare yourself to learn is very important.
English learning strategies for pilots and air traffic controllers English for pilots, ATCs, cabin crew and airport staff in Asia

Feel free to post a comment or question on the blog too.

Rejection Email
 

Hey guys, I just a rejection email =(. Hope you guys all the best~

cadetpilotwannabe,

I'm very sorry to hear of your rejection. Don't take it to heart, perhaps you are not yet ready to take on the challenges down in Adelaide? I'm sure the rejection does not mean you cannot be a good pilot in the future. I would suggest you make a list of their questions (and your answers) from the interview, and think about what went wrong. Work hard at improving, and you will come back much stronger. Been there, done that!

Good luck! :)

Thank you very much holdmetight... I will try my best to prepare for my next attempt. Do you have suggestion of how to doing it? Would you mind sharing your experience to us as well. I do not have any engineering background. My major is Econ... I have no idea what I can do...

Improving
 

cadetpilotwannabe,

Please refer to post #271. Personally, I think that each individual profile and background has its own merits; just because you don't have an engineering background does not mean you are any less suitable. As you may already know, cadet pilots come from a large variety of backgrounds, so keep confidence in yourself. I would also advise you not to rush into re-applying; make sure you have well and truly improved yourself before handing in your second application. Do not use the 12 month cooling-off period as a yardstick.

Good luck!

Just wanted to submit a post to add my 2 cents worth and to support what Holdmetight has been saying in this forum...

I think being self-critical and always striving to improve/become better are two very important characteristics that CX looks for in their pilots...think about it, as a cadet, you are constantly being critiqued and the only way to succeed as a Cathay cadet is to be able to accept this criticism and work hard towards improving....it doesn't matter how much flying experience you have - whether you have zero hours or an ATPL - the fact of the matter is, there is no such thing as perfection in aviation. Even IF IF IF your flying technique and skills are perfect (which I doubt any one can claim), a big part of flying has to do with AIRMANSHIP, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, COMMUNICATION, MAKING DECISIONS...etc etc. I have a ton of respect for captains (not just CX captains) and great pilots, but at the end of the day, nobody is perfect. I think Cathay wants people who can acknowledge and work on their limitations, shortcomings and weaknesses to become better pilots. They want people who will continue to learn throughout their career and to take something away from every flight they operate.

If you think you are perfect, or the day you become complacent, you become a threat to the crew and the passengers. And unless one can acknowledge that they don't know everything, they are not in the correct mindset/attitude to learn.

Having said this, if you failed in the past, use this as an opportunity to show that you will not let this single failure stand in the way of your dreams. Use the opportunity to show that you ARE the type of person who will continue to seek out learning experiences and to improve yourself. Use this opportunity to show that you are the type of person who can recognize your weaknesses and that you are proactive in making yourself a stronger candidate.

For those who are re-applying (or thinking of re-applying), keep your head up and have a think about this.

All the best!

flapsupdown,

Very well said, and point taken! :ok:

holdmetight:

I've also applied CPP again a few months before and still waiting to hear from them

A friend of mine who failed his 1st attempt and had to wait about half an year for the initial test..and he's now about to head towards ALD for flight grading next week.

So, I think most re-applicants have to wait longer

re-applicaiton
 

Does the waiting period has anything to do with your current job?
A friend of mine who's working for CX re-applied CPP and got called for initial test in just one month time.:bored:

Advice to second attempt applicants
 

Great posts from flapsupdown and holdmetight.

I've found that successful candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds, professions and age groups. To think that a particular type of candidate will be successful is just a limiting belief. From the candidates that I have known to be successful, it clear to see that they are very committed, and have been well prepared for every stage of the test. They often get caught out on technical questions, but it seems to be equally important that a candidate can accept correction and advice. Airlines want cadets that are easy to train and can learn from mistakes, so become someone that is easy to train.

I'd also add unless you are a native speaker you should start improving your English early. This is essential throughout every stage of the selection process (and your career), not just the ICAO test. Don't think, "hey, I got to stage 1b - now I should start improving my English" because that's going to put your teacher in a more difficult position. It's still possible to improve but it's not going to be as effective as a long term plan. Better English will also help you in every other aspect of your life.

If an assessor asks you to explain eg how a jet engine works, or the difference between various control systems they are assessing your ability to communicate in English, as much as your technical knowledge. I'd say that candidates from a non-technical background may even have an advantage over CPL holders there, in that the assessor's expectations will be lower.

There is also the case where an aviation career might not be right for you, and I can understand that this might be a painful decision, especially if your heart is in it. It's important to consider whether you (a) have the basic aptitude, and (b) have the interest and passion. If you don't have these things then it's ok to move on. Plenty of other people have made the same decision. Rather than work on the skills that you lack, it might be better to leverage the skills that you already excel at. There's a great book called Strengthsfinder 2 that can help you find these. Highly recommended.

If you do have the interest then do try again. One of the great things about aviation is that it's something that you can pursue privately and it's becoming more accessible, so a rejection from an airline is no big deal. Cadet entry is not the only way to an airline career, and you might find that you can get your aviation "fix" through private flying.

Re-applying
 

myhitomi,
Thanks for your advice. I e-mailed them around a week ago, and was told to expect a longer wait as they had to "review my file". I also have a friend who re-applied and had to wait 6 months before doing his Initial Test, so I guess you and I will be waiting/preparing for some time to come. Good luck to you, keep us updated!

jubilee2000,
I think your waiting period is massively reduced if you already work for CX. It is only logical that an insider's application would warrant an expedited assessment, when compared with an outsider's application!

Michael Egerton,
I agree that proactive thinking and preparation is the key to success.

Everyone else,
Since the gist of the thread has moved towards re-applying, I'd like to suggest that locals from HKG can indeed gain flying experience for a relatively low cost. As you may or may not know, some flying schools in the Philippines offer some very competitive prices for aircraft rental and instructor hiring. One such example would be Omni Aviation, check out their URL:
Omni Aviation
I have never been there before, so take my advice with the usual pinch of salt, and do some research for yourself. I heard that the Philipino PPL is FAA-compliant, and the actual cost of airfares, accomodation and flying is actually much cheaper than if you were to go to Australia or the USA. Do the math, research and see if this is the thing for you.

reapplying
 

hello all,

If you are successfully selected for an interview in a reapplying attempt, do you continue from where you failed in your previous attempt, or do you go from stage 1?

Not sure about stage 1, but I know that you can go straight into stage 2 or management if that is where your last attempt ended....

Don't quote me on this, but from what I have seen, it looks like it varies on a case-by-case basis.

Back in 2007, I was told by the HRs that the validity of the Initial Test is 12 months. Based on that logic, anyone who re-applied immediately after a year's time was allowed to skip the Initial Test and proceed directly to the stage he/she failed previously, while those who re-applied later were required to redo the entire assessment from scratch.

I wonder if this still stands?

Hello All. This is my first time posting on this forum. Lots of good info.

I applied in June of 09 and never received any emails, so I sent an email to [email protected] 2 weeks ago to see if they have any update on my application. I then got a reply few days ago asking me to send in my High School and University certificates/transcripts via email.

I am now waiting to have my schools get my transcript ready for me to send it over.

From another user's post, it looks like they will be holding interviews in Vancouver. Hopefully I will be lucky enough to do an interview there since its not too far from LA. Anyone from LA applying also?

Hey everyone ... just got registered on here ...a lot of good information and help. Will be having my stage 1 in a couple of weeks in Joberg, is there anyone else ?

cx interview in HK 2nd stage
 

Hello chaps looking for some info in the cx interview in Hong kong 2nd stage. having a night mare finding anything. Any help much appreciated!!! like wise anyone needing some pointed revision let me know cheers

HKG stage 2
 

wowpeter.com Blog Archive Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Program! [Updated with International Applicant Timeline / Info]
This site is mostly up to date with a few exceptions. I found it quite helpful so i had an idea of what id be doing before i got there

This is what i did prepping for my Stage 2 in hong kong hope it helps. This all came up to some degree in the interviews/tests

-Do a bit of revision on your theory up to where you are qualified to thus far in your aviation knowledge.
-Study the routes CX fly
-Learn the A/C they fly and be able to identify and distinguish between the --types
-Which A/C fly on which routes
-Info about the course in Adelaide i.e. Length of the course etc
-Which training A/C are used in Adelaide
-Practice some "speed math” addition and subtraction (theres a couple of sites about to use for practice)
-Role which will be served if accepted into cathay
and much more

cathay pacific
 

i was born overseas and i'm now currently in australia studying.. i have a very strong interest in aviation and would like to work for CX.. first of all, 2 questions

1.is the CX cadet pilot program open to everyone?

2. theres a uni in australia that teaches aviation, i was planning to go there and have my training done.. once i graduate, i will have the following Commercial Pilot Licence together with a Command Instrument Rating on twin-engined aircraft and a Flight Instructor Rating and completed the theoretical component of an Air Transport Pilot Licence. will i still get to be a CX second officer? or do i have to join the cadet pilot program to be one?

nicky7789:

In regards to question 1: Yes, you can read this on the Cathay website.
In regards to question 2: You can apply to the program regardless of hours/ratings obtained. And just as a side note, there is actually two universities offering flight training under a government funded FEE Help scheme, Swinburne and Griffith.

cathay pacific
 

so wat u mean is once i graduate .. i need to apply for the CX cadet pilot program ??