Sooo, now that DESO's dead, whacha gonna do next?
 

So we've been in the ever-deepening pool at least 2+ years, some I gather close to 3. And from reading the various "you can stick the iCadet option up your..." threads, I sense most of us are opting out from the @$$ rapeage the local package would provide us.

So what's next? Sticking around at your old gig, waiting for DEFO (if you qualify) or are we looking at other expat options (ANA/ANC, EK...)?

Just trying to get a feeler what you guys are up to, and it's not like I'm going anywhere in a hurry :sad:

Lates,

T

During my wait I got out of my regional and onto a LCC. I was never sure what I was going to do if Cathay finally offered me a class anyway, so this made the decision real easy. How about you, T-Mass?

You will see a change in hiring practices for next year. Apparently HK immigration approved work visas for the latest grad expat cadets, however indicated that there will be no future work visas for icadets as there were several formal complaints from HK locals filed lobbying that the cadet program was designed for locals to promote aviation careers for locals.
Latest requirement for 2011 is 350 pilots. Take your pick how CX will fill these positions.

I gave up on CX after the first year in the pool when it became apparent that they had no intention of using the poolies, but rather recruit cadets on local terms.

I've since changed companies from when I interviewed in 2008 and really have no intention of pursuing CX any further.

That said, if for some reason they did want to offer us the original DESO positions next year in 2011 that we interviewed for, the ONLY way I would even begin to consider it would be if they offered the full benefits package, AND started me at 3rd year SO pay since that's close to where I would have been if I joined back in mid 2008.

Since obviously this will not happen, I won't be working for CX anytime in the future. :ok:

islandguy, I agree. CX was a great opportunity '08, now, 3 years later even with full DESO package, I'd hesitate to go (wife and 2 kids, blahblah). DEFO could be an option, though unlikely to happen anytime soon. I'm still interested in long haul, looking at maybe ANC/ANA, EVA etc., yet the opportunities are far and between, and highly competitive; whatever it is, I just have to get out of this "career-regional-airline" shiite :{. Maybe the U.S side picks up in the next 3-5 years and I'll get to commute rest of my life to sit reserve on a jurassic Super-80... I've very quickly learned this is a fantastic job, but a clusterf++k of a career.

Keep on doin what I'm doing... schedule is great for now and long term things are looking up stateside. No plans to move across the planet under their current offer.

But aren't they still interviewing international cadets? It sounds like it in some of the other threads.

Cathay will continue what they're doing until they lose an appeal.
News today is that they won the appeal for the 49er's.
So now, they'll keep hiring icadets. If government stops issuing visas, then they'll appeal and will probably win again.

In Hong Kong like the rest of Asia the big corporates always win - and the individual always loses and the govt always enables it.

Visas will be issued when needed - nobody cares about a few individual complaints. China needs pilots - and they need them cheap.:}