Cathay Pacific Direct Entry First Officer

Direct Entry First Officer – A330 & B747 Hong Kong based

Experienced and technically proficient pilots are required to meet the following minimum requirements:

• ICAO Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) – obtained without exemption or conversion
• Valid Multi-Engine Instrument Rating
• Valid Class 1 Medical Certificate
• ICAO English Level 4 or above
• Experience commensurate with age

Minimum flight time experience:
1000 hours flying experience in one, or a combination of the following:

• Multi-engine jet transport as Commander or First Officer
• Military high performance jet
• Turbo propeller aircraft of weight 20,000KG or more (command)
• Corporate jet (command)
• Military instruction (fixed wing)

Preference will be given to applicants with the following flight time experience:
A minimum of 500 hours in Airline or Military Jet Transport aircraft with a certified Maximum All Up Weight (MAUW) equal to or greater than 45,000KG.

The total hour requirement may be reduced for Airbus or Boeing type rated individuals, with time on type.

Direct Entry First Officer training will be conducted in the Cathay Pacific Flight Training Centre in Hong Kong.

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Airbus says Transaero Airlines plans US$5.3b planes deal

European planemaker Airbus said on Thursday that Transaero, Russia's second-biggest airline, intends to buy 20 of its long-haul A330 aircraft, including a dozen new fuel-efficient neo jets.

Airbus said at the Farnborough airshow that Transaero had committed to buy 20 A330 planes, comprising eight A330ceo (current engine option) and 12 A330neo (new engine option) jets worth a combined $5.3 billion (3.9 billion euros) at list prices.

"This agreement makes Transaero an important launch customer and the first European airline to commit to the A330neo," Airbus said in a statement.

"The A330s will allow Transaero to continue the massive fleet modernization program and to boost its medium and long-haul domestic and international network."

Launched at Farnborough on Monday, the neo plane is a revamped version of the A330 and sports engine upgrades to provide more economical long-haul travel.

Airbus has won 121 commitments for the neo at Farnborough but no firm orders.

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AirAsia X intends to buy 50 Airbus A330-900neo planes

Malaysian airline AirAsia X on Tuesday signed an outline agreement to buy 50 long-haul A330-900-neo passenger planes from Airbus, the European planemaker said.

The deal is worth $13.75 billion (10.11 billion euros) at catalogue prices and deliveries are due to start in 2018, Airbus said on the second day of the Farnborough airshow near London.

Plans for the neo, a new version of the long-standing A330 thanks to upgraded engines, were launched by Airbus at the key industry event on Monday.

"AirAsia X, the long-haul affiliate of Asia's largest low-cost airline (Air Asia), has signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 50 A330-900neo aircraft," said a statement.

"The agreement sees the airline become a launch customer for the latest version of the best-selling wide-body. AirAsia X will also be one of the first operators of the aircraft," Airbus added.

Airbus's main rival Boeing, ahead of the show, raised its forecast for industry aircraft sales over the next two decades to $5.2 trillion, driven largely by demand from low-cost carriers.

AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes said the neo was the aircraft "we truly need to develop (to) further our low-cost, long-haul model".

"I think this is going to be a remarkable plane," he told a press conference at Farnborough.

Airbus chief executive Fabrice Bregier said lower fuel consumption, extended long range capability and competitive acquisition costs will make the A330neo "a true game changer" for the aviation industry.

Airbus has managed to win outline agreements for 105 A330 neo planes in the first two days of Farnborough, exceeding its target of 100 sales with several days of the event to go. The other deals were agreed with aircraft leasing companies. In total the European aircraft maker has sealed $25 billion of orders for its passenger planes at the show.

Airbus has said that the A330neo, a rival to the 787 Dreamliner made by US rival Boeing, will be available in two versions: the A330-800neo and the A330-900neo. The neo is expected to cut fuel consumption by 14 per cent per seat compared with existing A330s, while deliveries will start in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Airbus has sold about 1,300 A330s, of which the vast majority are still in service since the model's launch in 1993. The group has forecast sales of the A330neo at potentially more than 1,000 units.

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Airbus launches new A330neo jet at Farnborough

European plane maker Airbus on Monday launched the eagerly-awaited upgrade to its long-haul wide-body A330 jet -- the A330neo -- which boasts more fuel-efficient engines.

The news was unveiled on the first day of the Farnborough Airshow, a key biennial event in the aviation sector calendar held southwest of London which normally sees Airbus battle with rival US giant Boeing for plane orders.

The A330neo, seen as a direct competitor to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, will be available in two versions - the A330-800neo and the A330-900neo. The jet will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, Airbus said in a statement, adding it will be "the most cost efficient, medium range wide-body aircraft on the market".

The company added: "Airbus has launched the A330-800neo and A330-900neo, two new members of its widebody family, which will incorporate latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features."

Airbus said the new A330neo would cut fuel consumption by 14 per cent per seat, and that deliveries will start in the fourth quarter of 2017.

"The A330 is a very important margin contributor for our group. It's also one of the most reliable and efficient commercial aircraft ever," said Airbus Group chief executive Tom Enders. "With our decision to re-engine... we will keep the A330 flying high for many more years to come."

Airbus has sold about 1,300 A330s, of which the vast majority are still in service since the model's launch in 1993. It is thought that the A330neo could potentially sell more than 1,000 units, according to Airbus.

In the absence of truly new technologies or revolutionary materials -- such as light-weight carbon composites used in new fuel-efficient planes -- the launch of a brand new passenger jet is not envisaged in the next five to seven years. This has left Airbus and Boeing to modernise current models, such as the US giant's 777X, a new version of its jumbo that seats between 350 and 450 passengers.

Airbus and Boeing are also revamping their medium-haul A320 and 737 planes respectively.

Airbus also announced that International Airlines Group, parent of British Airways and Spain's Iberia, had converted 20 A320neo options into a firm order, for delivery in 2018 and 2019.

IAG indicated that it had received a substantial discount on each plane's list price of about $103 million (76 million euros).

"IAG's selection of the A320neo family for its single aisle fleet is a significant win for Airbus," said John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer, customers.

Airbus president Fabrice Bregier added: "We see strong market potential for the A330neo, and like its market-leading smaller sister, the A320neo, we are confident this new aircraft will be a success in the medium-haul segment."

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Singapore Airlines flight veers off Myanmar airport runway

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has confirmed that one of its planes veered off the runway on Wednesday (May 21) while landing at the Yangon International Airport in Myanmar.

An SIA spokesperson told Channel NewsAsia that flight SQ998, an Airbus A330 that took off from Singapore and which was scheduled to land in Yangon at 9.20am on Wednesday, encountered heavy rain and veered “slightly off” the runway on landing.

There were no reports of injuries. The aircraft was towed to the gate and all passengers disembarked safely, the spokesperson said, adding that a replacement aircraft was sent to Yangon to operate the return flight.

The airport was closed for half an hour due to the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, who was on the flight en route to the 23rd ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, posted on the Channel NewsAsia Facebook wall: "That was the hardest landing I've ever experienced. (The) crew was very professional, steady and reassuring."

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Thai AirAsia X upbeat on prospects in Thai market

Thai AirAsia X Co Ltd is upbeat on prospects in the Thai aviation market and is looking to serve 200,000 travellers in the first year of its operation.

Its chief executive officer Nadda Buranasiri said the new low-cost budget airline would be flying into three Asian destinations from June 17, while planning to add China to its routes next year.

"You will see a spiderweb of AirAsia's expanding network once we start operations. That will make potential travellers in Asean have a greater choice of travel destinations," he added.

Thai AirAsia X started operations on April 22 and will commence direct flights at the Dong Mueang International Airport on June 17 to South Korea's Incheon International Airport.

The airline will also commence direct flights on its Japan routes a month later and it involves the Narita and Kansai International Airports.

Thai AirAsia X is a 48.9 per cent subsidiary of AirAsia Bhd.

Nadda said Thailand's consumer behaviour had changed following the entry of low-cost airlines such as Thai AirAsia into the country's travel market 10 years ago.

"Online bookings are normal in the life of younger travellers compared to a decade ago when people travelled to other destinations, even within the country, via packaged tours," he added.

He noted that Thai AirAsia X would be focusing on brand building in the first year of its operations before expanding its routes and fleet.

It will operate two leased A330-300 wide-body aircraft to the three destinations.

The aircraft are considered new with two ranging from about five to six years old.

Nadda said Thai AirAsia X is allocating between US$8 million and US$10 million as capital expenditure towards maintaining the aircraft.

Looking ahead, the airline is cautiously optimistic of the future and in respect of expansion plans, against the backdrop of the political, social and economic situation in Thailand.

"Right now, it looks very promising. It also depends very much on the situation in time.

But we are prepared to add more aircraft if the signs are good," said Nadda.

"We see a lot of people coming from China to Thailand. At the same time, Thai travellers like to explore more of China. So, we are looking to add the country to our routes," he said.

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Electrical problems divert Malaysia Airlines plane to HK

A Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul had to divert to Hong Kong early Monday due to electrical problems, the carrier said, adding to the flag-carrier's headaches as it grapples with its missing plane crisis.

Flight MH066 was "diverted to Hong Kong due to an inoperative aircraft generator which supplies normal electrical power" on the Airbus A330-300, the airline said in a statement.

"However, electrical power continued to be supplied by the Auxiliary Power Unit," the company said, giving no further details on the equipment problem.

It said the aircraft landed in Hong Kong "uneventfully" and that all 271 passengers had been transferred to other carriers.

A Hong Kong Airport Authority spokeswoman said the aircraft touched down without incident at about 3:00 am.

The plane had departed from Kuala Lumpur at 11:37 pm (1537 GMT) on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Seoul's Incheon airport at 6:50 am, South Korean time.

As a result of the diversion, the return flight MH067 from Incheon to Kuala Lumpur was cancelled and passengers were transferred to other carriers as well as subsequent Malaysia Airlines flights to Kuala Lumpur.

On March 8, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared off civilian radar just an hour into its journey to Beijing, sparking an unprecedented international search across huge swathes of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

Malaysia has said the plane -- with 239 people aboard -- veered inexplicably off of its intended route in an apparently deliberate act.

Aircraft and ships from several nations have picked up a suspected trail in the southern Indian Ocean, where large pieces of floating debris have been spotted but not yet retrieved to determine if they are from MH370.

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AirAsia X places US$6b order for 25 Airbus A330s

Low-cost Malaysian airline AirAsia X announced on Wednesday an order of 25 long-range A330-300 aircraft with a catalogue price of nearly $6 billion (4.4 billion euros) as it looks to return to serving Europe.

"This order stamps our firm intent to dominate the long-haul, low-cost carrier space and marks the next phase in our development to be the undisputed global market leader," AirAsia X's director Tony Fernandes was quoted as saying in a statement.

Airbus said at a joint press conference in Paris it was the biggest single order for the widebody twin-engine aircraft from an airline, and would begin delivering the planes to the long-haul affiliate of the AirAsia group in 2015.

The order includes the latest version of the A330-300 capable of flying from Asia to Europe or the Americas non-stop.

"We need to come back to Europe and this aircraft is the right aircraft for us to come back," Fernandes said at the news conference. AirAsia X had previously flown to Paris and London, but halted serving the routes in 2012.

AirAsia X already had 26 of the planes on order and currently operates 16 A330-300 aircraft on routes from Kuala Lumpur to Asian and Middle Eastern destinations.

It also announced on Wednesday it was leasing 6 of the aircraft from the US company ILFC.

Fernandes said the AirAsia X is well positioned to dominate the Asian market, and that an announcement of a return to flights to Japan is also close.

He said AirAsia X was looking to emulate the success of Emirates, which has made a success of carrying passengers between continents from its hub in Dubai.

"We will build the equivalent of Emirates in low cost," said the AirAsia X chief. "We have bases and hubs in many countries, so the power of what we can build is much larger."

The AirAsia group is one of Airbus' biggest clients, with more than 120 medium-haul A320 planes in use and with several hundred aircraft on order.

In June 2011 the Malaysian company ordered 200 A320 Neo planes with a catalogue price of $18.24 billion, one of the biggest ever orders of commercial aircraft.

It has also ordered 10 of Airbus' future long-range aircraft, the A350-XWB.

AirAsia saw its third quarter net profit plunge by three-quarters to $11 million in the third quarter of this year due to foreign exchange losses, but its operating profit and passenger numbers both rose.

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Malaysia's AirAsia X ends flat on market debut

Shares in long-haul budget carrier AirAsia X ended flat on their market debut in Malaysia on Wednesday, despite the firm's chief executive promising a spending spree on new planes to boost frequency and target more routes.

The carrier was trading at an intra-day high of 1.28 Malaysian ringgit, up from an initial valuation of 1.25 ringgit, but at close failed to match overall gains in the wider market, which was up 0.13 per cent.

"I think it looks like we priced it right," chief executive Azran Osman-Rani said at a news conference.

He added that the Malaysia-based carrier would use cash from last month's $308.6 million initial public offering to increase its fleet and seek out new destinations.

"Planes, planes, planes. Bigger network, more destinations, more frequencies," Azran said.

The carrier, founded by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, has said the funds would largely be used to triple its fuel-efficient Airbus fleet from the current 10 aircraft and repay bank loans.

AirAsia X will take delivery of 23 Airbus A330-300 planes over the next four years with a further order for 10 A350-900s as it aggressively expands routes to meet demand in the Asia-Pacific.

The International Air Transport Association said the region is the world's fastest growing market, with passenger traffic more than doubling since 1998, despite fuel costs surging 55 per cent in the past seven years.

The airline, launched in 2007, reported a net profit of 33.8 million ringgit ($10.8 million) for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Charting an ambitious growth path, AirAsia X plans to increase services to existing destinations and carve out lucrative new routes in Australia, Japan and China.

Analysts said the successful listing of the long-haul arm of AirAsia -- Asia's largest budget airline by fleet size -- showed that a low-cost long-haul business model was viable.

Total demand for the institutional tranche of the public offering was more than 10 times the number of base shares available, the company said.

"Investors may want to pay close attention to this stock because it is one of a handful of airlines in the world that has been innovative and committed to opening new markets," said Shukor Yusof, a Singapore-based aviation analyst with Standard & Poor's.

He told AFP that AirAsia X's listing would encourage other regional carriers, such as fast-growing Indonesia-based Lion Air to follow suit.

The key challenge AirAsia X would face was keeping a lid on fuel costs, which account for about 49 per cent of operating costs, he said.

"The main challenge obviously is to rein in costs. Jet fuel price has started to increase due to uncertainties in the Middle East," Shukor added.

AirAsia X's IPO comes as at a time when several companies in the region have withdrawn from such a move.

In June alone, four companies in Hong Kong either dropped IPO plans or cut their their sizes.

Ooi Chin Hock, a brokerage dealer with Malaysia's M&A Securities, said AirAsia X's "strong management and credible growth plans" was attracting investors at a time when regional markets are choppy.

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Ouch, a punch in the face for Tony even though he has given big plans ahead of the launch of the IPO. Now will it stay limp or have a revival in coming weeks? The market is very volatile at the moment and it won't be easy for it to perform.

Thomas Cook A330 engine explosion caught by plane spotter at Manchester Airport

IT started as a normal runway taxi filmed by a plane spotter from the sidelines. Then boom. The engine explodes.

The entire scene was captured by plane spotter Simon Lowe who posted his video onto YouTube.

Thomas Cook flight TCX314 was carrying 325 passengers to the Dominican Republic at the time of the incident at Manchester Airport.

On the Aviation Herald - a website that lists all the aviation incidents around the world - the accident is listed as a "rejected takeoff". But it's much more scary than that.

There is some debate on his YouTube page over whether the Thomas Cook A330 engine exploded or whether it was just a compressor stall. Still, the fact remains that a huge ball of fire engulfs one of the plane's engines as it taxis down the runway. Either way, that's not good.

Mr Lowe continued to film, capturing the response from emergency vehicles. He says it took them two minutes and 46 seconds to arrive on the scene.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "We can confirm that an incident took place at Manchester Airport regarding flight TCX314, during takeoff to the Dominican Republic.

"The aircraft developed an engine fault and returned to stand; as a precaution, the airport emergency services attended the aircraft - but at no time were passengers or crew at risk.

"We'd like to thank our customers for their patience during the delay to their flight; a replacement aircraft was used to take them on their holiday the same afternoon."

An investigation is underway.

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Pretty scary stuff if you're a passenger in the plane hearing the loud boom coming from the engine. But it is good job that the pilot handled it well especially when he brought the plane back into the straight line through the rudder controls.

The mishap happened early in the take-off run which is a blessing as V1 speed has not been met and thus a Reject Take-off procedure can be carried out. Had the plane rotated, it will be scarier for the passengers onboard.

AirAsia X plans huge fleet expansion with US$418m IPO

Malaysian long-haul carrier AirAsia X said on Monday it plans to use funds of up to US$418 million from a public listing to more than triple its Airbus fleet and expand routes to meet demand in Asia-Pacific.

The budget carrier founded by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes hopes to raise the proceeds in an initial public offering (IPO) ahead of its July 10 debut on the Malaysian bourse.

"The estimated amount based on the 1.45 ringgit (US$0.47) per issue share is between 1.1 billion ringgit and 1.3 billion ringgit," Nazir Razak, head of banking group CIMB which is running the IPO, told reporters after the prospectus launch.

AirAsia X had earlier cited a conservative amount saying the IPO could raise RM859 million (US$277 million) from the sale of 592.6 million new shares for between 1.15 to 1.45 ringgit each.

Analysts have said with last month's general election over, investors are looking for a wide range of stocks in Southeast Asia's third largest economy, sparking a fundraising fever in Malaysia.

AirAsia X chief executive Azran Osman Rani said the proceeds from the IPO would finance fleet and route expansion to cement its position in its core markets in Australia and Asia.

The carrier will take delivery of 23 Airbus A330-300 planes over the next four years beginning in July, while it has also placed a firm order for 10 A350-900s.

Detailing the airline's strategy, Azran said it will bolster its position in lucrative markets like Australia, China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

It would be followed by adding frequencies to current routes, opening new destinations including to Adelaide in Australia, Nagoya and Fukuoka in Japan and Busan in South Korea.

AirAsia X previously scrapped London flights because of the European debt crisis and focused on serving routes within Asia-Pacific, where sustained economic growth has swelled the middle class.

AirAsia X currently has 10 Airbus A330-300 planes and serves 14 routes across the region, including destinations in Australia, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Azran also said with the arrival of more aircraft it would allow the airline to set up hubs in Thailand and Indonesia.

A hub in Thailand will allow AirAsia X to operate regular services from Bangkok to lucrative markets such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.

A third of the funds raised in the listing will be used to repay debt while another third is slated for capital expenditure, with the balance going to working capital and listing expenses.

Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard & Poor's Equity Research in Singapore, has predicted the AirAsia X listing will be a success and the cash raised was "a good start to fund their fleet expansion".

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has described Asia-Pacific as the world's fastest growing market, with passenger traffic more than doubling since 1998, despite fuel costs surging 55 percent since 2006.

Meanwhile Fernandes dismissed the threat posed by Malindo Airways, an affiliate of Indonesia's budget carrier Lion Air, citing AirAsia's position as Asia's largest budget carrier with a strong balance sheet.

"We are in a very strong position. It will be tough for new airlines or future entrants into the market," he said.

Malindo Airways, however, has already sparked a price war by offering competitive fares with free snacks and luggage allowance. It currently serves domestic routes.

Profit-making AirAsia was Asia's first low-cost carrier to complete an IPO in 2004.

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AirAsia X survives and is ready to fight all competition in its ways. Fleet expansion with A330 and A350 will mean more ambitious plans ahead but one will also have to see how many of the old fleet are they de-registering upon receiving the new orders gradually. This big order will more or less put them on par with Scoot in terms of fleet size when Scoot starts receiving its order of 20 B787 starting 2014. The days ahead will mean better and more comfortable flights in big aircraft but not pay a premium price for it. The mainstream consumers will gain the most out of it.

Air France flight makes emergency landing in India

A Paris-bound Air France flight from Mumbai was forced to make an emergency landing in the Indian city on Monday after developing an engine problem, the airline and airport said.

Shortly after take-off, air traffic control declared an emergency aboard the aircraft which was carrying 213 people, said Vaibhav Tiwari, a spokesman at Mumbai's international airport.

"The pilot noticed some technical glitch in the engine," Tiwari told AFP, adding that the plane turned around and landed safely at the Mumbai airport about half an hour after taking off early on Monday.

He said the passengers of flight AF 217 were put up in a hotel and would take the next scheduled flight by Air France.

An Air France spokesman confirmed that the Airbus A330 had returned to the airport.

"The plane turned around after a problem with a malfunctioning engine," the spokesman told AFP.

The airline spokesman did not disclose the nature of the engine problem but said it was "not a particularly unusual incident".

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A little hiccup with one of its two engines and an emergency landing has to be carried out. What I would like to assure passengers is that planes are built to be flown in a half broken stage. There is still one engine available to provide adequate thrust to maintain flight. So don't be too worried if it happens to you the next time. Stay calm, listen to the safety instructions, and you'll be on the ground in no time.

China Southern to buy 10 A330-300 aircraft

China Southern Airlines, the country's largest airline by fleet size, said Wednesday it will buy 10 Airbus A330-300 aircraft in a deal worth $1.88 billion at list price to boost its capacity.

The airline said the acquisition will "facilitate the strategic change and the internationalisation of the company", the firm said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange where it is listed.

"The Airbus aircraft will be delivered in stages to the company during the period commencing from 2014 to 2016," the airline said, adding that the acquisition will be financed through internal resources and bank loans.

The airline said the purchase will enhance its "competitiveness" and increase the carrier's available tonne kilometre -- a measurement for airline capacity -- by 5.7 percent, when the new aircraft are delivered.

China Southern Airlines did not announce the actual price it was paying for the 10 aircraft, which are worth a total of $1.88 billion at list price, apart from saying it received "certain price concessions" from Airbus.

Airlines usually get discounts from plane-makers for large orders.

The deal came two weeks after rival China Eastern Airlines, a smaller Shanghai-based carrier, ordered 60 Airbus A320 in a deal worth $5.39 billion to satisfy the country's booming domestic travel demand.

Air travel demand in China has increased in line with the country's decades of surging economic growth that have made it the world's second-biggest economy and seen its increasingly wealthy consumers take to the skies.

An industry body said in November that China will need 4,960 commercial planes over the next 20 years at a total of $563 billion, as demand for air travel is expected to soar.

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Competition heating up in China. Orders are coming in flick and fast.