Career Progression in Cathay Pacific Airways

Second Officers with little or no experience (Cadet Pilots )

Entry levels

Second Officers with little or no experience (Cadet Pilots)

Subject to passing a 5-stage interview process, Cathay will pay fully for your 14 month ab-initio training in Adelaide, Australia.

There is no guarantee of a job even after successfully completing the 14 month ab initio course. However, if a job is offered after graduating the contract you will be offered will include a training bond for 6 years. If you decide to leave prior to the completion of the bond, you may be asked to payback a proportion of your training costs.

Second Officer with experience

All new joiners will attend a course in Adelaide, Australia. Individual experience levels determine the length of course attended. One example would be a 30 week course for those with some experience (CPL), or another example would be a 12 week Transitional Training course for those holding an ATPL with suitable experience. On completion of the course in Adelaide, in recognition of your previous experience and the reduced amount of training needed when compared to the Cadet new joiners, a ‘forgivable loan’ will be offered. However, this is subject to your contract, which includes a 6 year training bond. If you decide to leave prior to the completion of the six years you will be asked to payback a proportion of the loan.

First Officer

Presently the company is not recruiting First Officers.

However, in the past this has occured from time to time. Although the position of these officers on the Seniority list is also determined by date of joining, the rate at which Second Officers are promoted to First Officers would be adversely affected.

Benefits

All new joiners based in Hong Kong irrespective of previous experience receive the same remuneration and allowance package, known as the Hong Kong Pilot Allowance (HKPA). This includes a living allowance and children’s education allowances for those with children being educated in Hong Kong Primary and Secondary schools.

Time to upgrades

The Company recruits pilots with the intention of offering a full career, including promotion to Command. On the Date of Joining (DOJ) all crew are given a seniority number which will be at the bottom of the common Aircrew Seniority List. Subject to Company requirements, suitability for upgrade is assessed by a selection panel in order of seniority.

Currently, pilots who joined about 4 years ago are being upgraded from Second Officer to First Officer, and those being upgraded to Captain have been with the Company for around 11.5 years.

Click here for more information from the Cathay Pacific Website