Second Officer 7th July London
 

Hi guys,

Just wondered if anyone else was attending the Second Officer interview on the 7th July in London?!?

Thought maybe we could compare notes and stuff!!

Sydney SO interview
 

Hi guys,

I got a Sydney interview for SO 1st stage cadet ship with CX in July. Is anyone else out there attending around then?

Studying basic technical questions and researching HK, done about 15 hours dual and gone solo. From your experience, does anyone out there have any questions from stage 1 that have been asked recently?

That would be great help :)

Contacts
 

G'day all
I'm trying to follow up my application with Cathay and was wondering whats the best way to go about this? Any emails and/or phone numbers would be great!

Thanks
cosmoc

i will be in HK for the interview on the 15th

SO cadet 1st Interview
 

Hi everyone,

I am also attending the Stage 1 interviews but in Auckland. Would be great if anyone could give some insight into the 1st stage so I have an idea of what to expect.

Thanks guys

I'm also attending the stage 1 interview in Auckland next month.

When they ask about Cathay destinations during the interview, are they most concerned with their own destinations rather than the codeshare ones? The destinations with their own service are annotated with a ^ on the Cathay company website.

Stage One
 

Hi all,

I have been asked to attend the stage one process in AKL next month. Has anyone experienced the latest stage one process or have any insight as to what you can expect?

My invitation states there are four components.

Interview with both Personal and Technical Questions (45mins)

Technical multiple-choice Questionnaire (45mins)

Reasoning Test (45mins)

A Personality Assessment (30mins)

Any idea on what you can expect in each of these exercises would be fantastic. In partiuclar I am interested in the technical questions and the reasoning test, ie the type of question and what the best reference material out there is.

Thanks in advance.

Big_Browna and Eagle 206 when did you guys submit your application?

London 13th June
 

Did anyone attend the assessment on Monday 13th June in London?

Burger81

advanced training programme help
 

hello friends i have been trying for cathay pacific cadet programme since 2008 and i have sent my application in the internet, whenever i try to update my application it says that my application is under process, i also heard that they have started a programme for ppl who have a cpl with low flying time i dont want 2 lose this oppurtunity if anyone can give me a phone number or any email it ll a big help

hey try to mail them in this id "[email protected]"

Has anyone going to the AKL interview received any reading material (JKI Booklet?) yet?

@eagle206 - read the thread. There is a lot of good in-depth information concerning the interviews.

Curious....
 

How many have read "The 49ers - The True Story" by John Warham?

If not, why?

If so, your thoughts considering the career and choices you are making now?

There are now 2 books that any aspiring pilot for CX should read: "Handling The Big Jets" by Davies and "The 49ers - The True Story" by John Warham.

How can you not know where the airline you seek to join is going if don't know where that airline has been? Past behaviour is the greatest and best indicator of future behaviour. Even CX use that technique in your interviews.

http://www.cathaypilotsunion.org/int...MP12Oct08A.pdf

think its a bit of useful info cadet should take a look on the company culture and the 49ers episode

they asked me about it when I interviewed in 08.

What do you know about the 49ers?

What do you think?

How should the company have acted in this matter in your opinion?

Its not all about what engines does this aircraft have blah blah blah.

thnx a lot

Interview - London 7th July
 

Hi all,

I have been invited for an Interview on the 7th July in London, anyone else got the invite?

@dhps, what is your experience level:E?


(UK FATPL CPL IR MCC JOC 200 hours.:sad:, low hour bashing suit *on*)


Hamid_27

hi
 

hi guys. just had my initial interview last june 14 and still awaiting a response from CX. but upon checking my status on the cx website this is what i saw.

We are unable to accept your application within a 12 month period of your previous application. If you wish to re-apply for the Cadet Pilot Programme, please do so at the appropriate time.

does it mean i failed my application?

Hi there,

So there have been selections taken in different parts of the worlds. Can't some guys share their experience? We have to put this topic in life again!!

CW

Re-App
 

No it doesnt mean your out. Its automatic, and you will get a mail/call. even if you fail. So just wait for the mail/call.

The result can take between 1 - 10 weeks, depending. So just continue your journey, and consider it a bonus if your invited for st 2. I wish you the best of luck!

I was contacted after around 8 weeks, and didnt pass unfourt. So, I waited 10 months, and then I could apply again, wich I have done.

Ha anyone on this thread been to interview - stage1 twice?

Good day!

hi airburkina
 

thank you so much for your reply. Get it or not I will still continue my flight training and get me sharper. Even if I fail I will still continue applying. I really love CX and even if they dont accept me. I'll still never let go of the dream.

How can you love Cathay, what do you really know about it? and don't tell us how nice they are to be a passenger on. If you just want to fly a big jet just say so. And never mind the fact you are undercutting and undermining what used to be a career job, that is what you should love!

Age
 

Hello everyone, just wondering if there is a cut-off-age for this particular programme? I turned 31 recently and would like to apply.

Age
 

31 is good. You might have advantages in experience. When I was at st1 we were 8, and 2 were invited for st2, both above 30.

Go for it!

anyone for flight grading this coming July?

@ Bushbum
 

How are people trying to get a job at Cathay undermining the career? Honestly, what should we know about Cathay that will make us not want to work there? That they are like all airlines? That they won't do everything that the pilots want? How bad can it really be? Please educate us.

failed
 

I just received the most dreaded news I ever had in my life. I failed at my first attempt to join CX never thought it would hurt this bad. oh well, im still alive eh.. and cx will always be there.

cheers! life goes on.

ixg888
 

Sorry to hear. Been there done that, and most have unfourt. But do not worry, look forward to you next try instead, then you know what to prepare on even more. I heard from a cadet at CX that many have applied atleast twice, so use this year to do something that might be an advantage for next app. If you dont have a PPL, start to take lessons i.e.

Good luck next time! Me myself I hope to get a new shot! Dont loose the hope :ok: Failure can be good too, we all learn from it.

hi airburkina
 

mate, cx aint goin anywhere. LOL.. you are right I have yet get my PPL I only have like 30 hours under my belt.. I have yet to learn a lot.. I maybe at an old age.. but my flying experience is infant at this stage.. 10 months to reapply isn't that long. who knows? maybe on my next attempt I'm on the advance entry already. pprune aint going anywhere and I can't wait for the day comes when I ask it here how is it, to go to the flight grading.. that would be a blast!

to all those who got accepted congratulations and hope to fly with you someday!

blue skies!

oh great thanks for the encouragement but the problem is ... i dont have any flying exp. :{

The Money
 

Here's How I see it.

I was at selection in LON on Friday last and received this salary information from the HR person.

This is for SO, first year;

Basic Salary: HK$ 422,040 per annum.

Quote:
"In addition, Second Officers are eligible for hourly duty pay and is calculated on 84 credit hours per month equating to HK$ 42,204 per annum.

Annual Bonus (13th Month Salary)
I make this; basic/12 = 422,040/12 = HK$ 35,170.

Hong Kong Allowance:
HK$ 10,000 per month = HK$ 120,000 per annum.

Hong Kong Salaries Tax:
Quote:
"Salaries tax in HK at present is not more than 17% of the employee's gross emoluments. Tax is applicable to all cash allowances provided.

So, for the first year you earn:

422,040
42,204
35,170
+120,000 = HK$ 619,414 per annum.

Tax of 17% on 619,414 = 105,300.
Therefore net salary = HK$ 514,113 per annum or, £41,117 or, 46,092E or, US$ 66,014 per annum.

I may have made some mistake(s), please feel free to point them out!

By the way there are also additional benefits available for people with children, the above figures are for; a single person, Hong Kong based, second officer for the first full year of employment as such.

The "Annual Bonus" is "Annual DISCRETIONARY Bonus" and is paid at the behest of the company.

Do not count it as part of the package. It has been denied in the past - and is only payable to Hong Kong based employees - when it's paid, that is.

I am just wondering if you fail at Stage 2 or 3, will you be allowed to go straight to the same stage when you reapply or have to go through the whole thing all over again?? Thank you!

PPL & CPL doesn't help you pass interviews
 

For those that think PPL or CPL makes a difference, it doesn't. When I did it in 2008, prior to iCadet scheme, someone with zero experience got in. I got a PPL with 130 hours and another guy had a CPL and instructor hours and both of us failed at Stage 2. While a PPL might help with flight grading, you still have to pass the tests and interviews first.

Did they modify the Stage contents after iCadet was introduced? For example, do you still have to do a little speech about CX Cadet at Stage 1?

Aquafina1
You have made some huge mistakes.

HK$422040 SO annual salary
HK$ 35170 Annual Discretionary Bonus (If Paid)
HK$ 27642 Hourly Duty Pay based on 84 hrs/month less 3 weeks annual leave
HK$120000 Hong Kong Pilot Allowance
HK$604852 Total income
HK$108000 Less basic tax free threshold
HK$496852 Taxable income

Tax calculation for first year of service.

HK$ 800 First 40000 @ 2%
HK$ 2800 Next 40000 @ 7%
HK$ 4800 Next 40000 @ 12%
HK$64065 Remaining 376852 @ 17%
HK$72465 Total Tax (Based on Annual Discretionary Bonus being paid)

HK$66486 Total Tax (No Annual Discretionary Bonus)

In you first year of employment in Hong Kong you also need to budget for Provisional Tax, i.e. one year’s tax in advance. Therefore you need to double the above tax figures for your first tax bill.

HK$144930 Total Tax (ADB Paid) = 34.3% of your monthly salary.
HK$132972 Total Tax (No ADB Paid) = 31.5% of your monthly salary.

This is a higher tax burden in your first year of service than most western countries.

Hong Kong Taxation Scales

Forgiveable Loan?
 

Aquafina1, 404 Titan,

From the recent guys who have been for the stage 1 assessments, there is no mention of the forgiveable loan now. Has this part of the T&C been withdrawn? For an advanced or transistion programme SO, surely if this is still being offered, it would provide a huge assistance in the first year tax burden and getting settled in Hong Kong??

Aquafina1, which programme were you interviewing/being assessed for?

Good Luck

Burger81

Additions.....
 

.....don't forget the 15.5% on top of your basic salary that goes to the "Mandatory Provident Fund". You don't have to contribute to this fund as such and it doesn't attract tax.

MM

Burger81

I don’t know to tell you the truth. It may have just dawned on the company that a “forgivable loan” once forgiven is 100% taxable, i.e. the whole HK$1.1M by the IRD.

mochiman

As you can’t take the 15.5% company provident fund contributions in cash it makes absolutely no difference to your monthly cash flow as a SO. The funds are locked away until you retire.
Rubbish. You must contribute from your own pocket either 5% or 10% of your monthly salary to your provident fund each month. Your contributions are taxed in your salaries tax each year by the IRD.

Perhaps I should have clarified that it was an "additional benefit" and wasn't meant to be considered as part of your monthly cash flow. It wouldn't be the first "retirement benefit" to keep your money locked in.

Still better than a kick in the teeth.

MM