Cathay Pilot Base
 

Hello, I am a Canadian citizen who just got the second interview at Cathay for the Cadet pilot program.

I just wanted to ask that upon hiring is it possible to be based in Toronto or Vancouver? I had heard that SO's get the Hong Kong base, but after 3 years when I am junior First Officer, is it guaranteed that i can get a Canada base or is it at Cathay's discretion.

Thank you

sorry to say....
 

Cathay is a seniority based airline....(well, pretty much anyway:mad:)...what this means for you is this: ALL S/Os are based in Hong Kong, with the possibility of a 2 month temporary base once a year, this may or may not be in Canada, up to the companys crewing requirements. If you are successful, you will be at the very bottom of a large pile of pilots, now around 2600. Once you upgrade to FO, you will then be eligible for a permanent base, assuming you actually upgrade onto the fleet that serves your base bid, and if you are the most senior, or senior enough to hold a base position, then you will be awarded the base. However.....the bases have been filled up by the DEFOs, and so base slots are becoming very rare, so when they do come up, usually quite senior people are taking them. In a nutshell, dont come to CX or Hong Kong expecting to be here only a few years, your looking at 10 years at least before you get a base. As well, all commands are done ex Hong Kong, so its back to the Fragrant Harbour and back to the bottom of the Captains seniority list before bidding another base....:E

Good luck with your interview, the majority of people here in CX make it an enjoyable place to work.

Nosey

Nosey has hit the nail on the head here.
You will be waiting along time before a fulltime base is available for you.
As a S/O temp bases are available for a 2month stint at a time. You then require 4months back in HKG before you are allegible for another base. Temp bases come up rather frequently, but to have a Canadian Temp base you need to be on the B777. But then you could take a temp base anywhere in NA and commute back home.
You need to have done 1 year service (probabtion) before taking a temp base.

Hey NoseGear,

Thanks for you info. Just out of interest is the process of getting an outport base any faster if you transfer to Cargo and do they still require new captains to be based in HKG? If I'm sucessful at the CPP interviews that I am doing at the moment I would not be looking for a quick switch to an outport base but would not like to be moving back and forth so maybe being based in HKG for the duration of my time as an FO and then applying as for an outport as a captain (so it really would be a permenent move). I had hoped this process may take around 12-15 years on pax and 8-10 on cargo (assuming 3 years as SO) but if you can offer a more realistic timeline that would be appreciated.

Thanks

There is no more "cargo" so to speak, it has become a common 744 fleet so it'll be as stated above by Nosegear.

3 years to F/O. Tell him he's dreamin. :=

No rush
 

I should add, its not as though HK is a hardship basing....afterall, to name a few, there is WanChai and Lan Kwai Fong, Soho, Hollywood road, loads and loads of places to eat, drink and talk rubbish to the ladies on your numerous days off! Hint: tell em your a dolphin trainer! :E:ok:

As I said, good luck in your interviews, study up HK and CX, you will definately be asked about your knowledge of both. And as Flyhardmo said, it will be more than 3 years to upgrade....:(