The cadet program seems to be the way future recruitment is headed here. No DESO/FO hiring forecast, but they have increased the number of Cadet courses to go through Adelaide each year.
The program IS getting better. The union has been able to secure child education allowance and a housing deal probably isn't far off either. It will probably only start once upgrade to FO takes place though (3-4yrs typically)
Those waiting on DEFO, will be waiting a while. If the union has anything to do with it, it will never happen again. It has caused too many problems for the company over the last few years, it would be surprising to see it happen again. By-pass pay issues, seniority issues... the list goes on.
Having said that, Cathay do what they want and worry about it later. So anything is possible. At the end of the day, its a great job here in Hong Kong. Great lifestyle and more time off than any job I've ever had before.
I've finished my app - except for my HS grades then I can submit it, still waiting for them as I graduated about 15 years ago. I hope they will consider someone who already has a bunch of flight experience. (and is from the USA) I was hoping to go the DESO/DEFO way - but I would be happy to hit the reset button for the opportunity to work for CX. (which has been my goal since I started this whole aviation thing 10 years ago)
I'm waiting to apply, I should be graduating college in the Spring and don't want to have to turn down an interview or anything in the interim. Whether that's a good move or not, I don't know. I'm also curious to see if Etihad will be hiring again next year or not.
Word on PPrune is that Cathay has just opened their cadet program to all nationalities. I dont have work for CX nor do I know anything about their cadet program, but this might be of some interest to the non-licensed pilots around here.
Check out the Cathay website on how to apply. http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/careers/flying/cadetpilot_application
Finally got my HS Grades in the mail... looking through some of them I know where my "showing up for class in my underclothes/unprepared for a test dreams" might have root in. Anyhoo... application submitted. (finally) Now I have to email the people I know at CX and ask them for an internal recommendation.