The ones I saw were from South Africa and the UK. Have yet to hear of anyone from the US getting a call.
Cathay Cadet Program
- Thread starter chris
- Start date
The ones I saw were from South Africa and the UK. Have yet to hear of anyone from the US getting a call.
scramjet
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the update!
I really hope I get a call! Good luck to everyone else who applied, too!
juxtapilot
Snowflake
This is pretty cool. I would LOVE to see someone from here get in!
scramjet
Well-Known Member
Same here! Graduating in May, so the timing would be really good.
knma'91
Well-Known Member
thanks for the update
ClearedForOption
Displaced... again.
Thanks for the info. It's been my dream to work at CX since, well, since the first day I went flying. (actually, since my first day in aviation) I too, hope I get a call.
scramjet
Well-Known Member
From what I understand (and I may be wrong) a fair amount of the initial process is psychometric testing and basic knowledge testing (math, physics, logic, English, etc).
chris
Well-Known Member
Looking at your experience in your sig, I wouldn't be expecting a call since they are hiring for cadets only. On pprune there is talk of them starting a new hiring program for low-time pilots who won't have to go through the entire 16-18 month cadet training, but will only do it in 6 months, just like how SOs used to be trained.
There are still a lot of SOs who were hired a few years ago who are awaiting course dates, but it sounds like Cathay is moving away from hiring experienced pilots and will be concentrating on cadets (no time at all) and low-time trainees.
Keep in mind that cadets are NOT given a housing allowance either. SOs used to get housing taken care of, but for cadets and low-time pilots, you will be on your own.
Good luck to all. PPrune is the place to go (fragrant harbour forums) for all the CX info. Sounds mostly negative though, so be warned.
ClearedForOption
Displaced... again.
That is what I also 'heard' through the CX grapevine. I know a few people that were hired as direct entry pilots and are still waiting for a class over two years later. (It really seems like they are moving away from the direct entry pilot model.) So, in keeping up with my contacts at Cathay I told them to put in a good word for me as a candidate for the cadet program. (They had put in a good word for a SO interview, but I submitted my stuff first when I was just a hair shy of the mins and then after they stopped interviewing/hiring SO's - good timing as usual.)
I would be happy, even overjoyed, to punch the reset button to work at Cathay. As much as it would feel weird to be going back to turns around a point and etc. there is always something that I can learn by returning to the beginning and learning the basics 'the Cathay way.' (And if I am chosen hopefully my 'real world' experiences and teaching experience could help my potential fellow cadets down there with me in the trenches get through the program.)
Plus, I am sure that the course is more like a JAA ATP(L) program than the FAA 61/121 model that I have been a part of since day one in aviation. Since my background is in media production and I do not have a degree from 'the Harvard of the skies' I know that I have random holes (that I don't know about/nor where they exist) in my aviation education. I am sure that the Cathay cadet course would be very challenging even with my total time.
I do hope I get the call. If not, then I will keep trying. As I said above, Cathay has been my dream job since I started this career.
rjmore
Gastrointestinally Challenged
Pprune has a lot of interview info so that is what the site is good for. The rest of it is 99% bs from guys that wouldn't be happy if they made a mil per year. There are problems like anywhere. When you work for someone else they WILL do something at some point that will tick you off. That's life and the nature of this thing called a JOB. They really ticked me off yesterday with a couple of things, but now I have two weeks off to get over it. Keep it all in perspective.
Last I was told was that the future will hold DEFO and Cadets. I can also confirm that they are looking at a short cadet course for experienced pilots based on demand. Remember, all cadets used to be local HKG folks so this whole thing is new.
The housing issue is a big one and the AOA is working on getting something in place but no guarantees. HOWEVER, most applying for the cadet program will be getting to an international major airline in their early 20's....again keep it all in perspective.
Last I was told was that the future will hold DEFO and Cadets. I can also confirm that they are looking at a short cadet course for experienced pilots based on demand. Remember, all cadets used to be local HKG folks so this whole thing is new.
The housing issue is a big one and the AOA is working on getting something in place but no guarantees. HOWEVER, most applying for the cadet program will be getting to an international major airline in their early 20's....again keep it all in perspective.
E_Dawg
Moderator
Cadets are local in hkg which means no housing allowance. I believe for an SO on an expat package housing allowance is between hk$14000-21000 per month (about 2000-3000usd) then doubles after 2 yrs. This is why catahy has been so attractive for expats in the past. Housing prices are in hk dollars per week. Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this. Hkg is one of the most expensive places in the world to live. I do think it would be nice for somebody young and without any flight experience however something just seems wrong about the top ramen flight instructor diet while flying a 747 around for a living.
scramjet
Well-Known Member
Very true. I'm starting to wonder if it's that great of a deal considering the housing prices. I'd be all over it if I could be based in LAX or SFO, but that isn't part of that program. Expanding the cadet program overseas means that they don't have to pay expat housing anymore, I guess. No wonder they're expanding it so much; it'll be a lot cheaper in the long run (for the company). It seems like Etihad's cadet program would have been a better deal as they had a housing allowance...shame they're not hiring anymore. CX will probably never call me anyhow so I guess it doesn't really matter!
rjmore
Gastrointestinally Challenged
Guys you will have to pays your dues somehow in this business there is no way around it. If you want a company to pick up the tab for flight training then you can't expect that they will also give you the same package as guys with experience.
There are ongoing talks with the company about getting cadets a housing allowance but it isn't guaranteed. There aren't many cadet programs out there that you would eventually be able to get to a base in the US.
Starting pay for SO is around $51,000USD per year. Hong Kong is expensive so maybe you will have to have a roommate. You would probably have to have one if you went to fly at a regional making $18K per year. The difference is that you could be a 777 Captain in your early thirties instead of a 737 FO back on first year pay.
If you have experience then this was not designed for you. However, we are getting a lot of applications from guys with experience so recruiting is looking to put something together. First Officer recruiting will eventually begin again but I think the old direct entry SO has gone the way of the Dodo bird.
The program isn't for everyone so think hard about what you want.
There are ongoing talks with the company about getting cadets a housing allowance but it isn't guaranteed. There aren't many cadet programs out there that you would eventually be able to get to a base in the US.
Starting pay for SO is around $51,000USD per year. Hong Kong is expensive so maybe you will have to have a roommate. You would probably have to have one if you went to fly at a regional making $18K per year. The difference is that you could be a 777 Captain in your early thirties instead of a 737 FO back on first year pay.
If you have experience then this was not designed for you. However, we are getting a lot of applications from guys with experience so recruiting is looking to put something together. First Officer recruiting will eventually begin again but I think the old direct entry SO has gone the way of the Dodo bird.
The program isn't for everyone so think hard about what you want.