hi localiserreborn,
In defense of self-sponsored guys, surely if we've trained at a good school and have passed the IR flight test then we are performing to a standard suitable for ifr flying (some better than others, naturally)? Do the ab-initio's not train at a Flying School the same as sponsored guys do, and do they not do the same line training and type rating that the self-sponsored guys do? Do they not also fly the light training aircraft that we fly at our flying school? Do they fly more hours than we do as part of their training?
I suspect you are comparing experienced guys versus fresh-out-of-school self-sponsored guys, in which case I totally agree with what you have said. But if you are comparing self-sponsored versus ab-initio's surely they base it on who is "right for the company" (as well as the other stuff that goes on..you know what i mean).
In any case reiterating danny, thanks for the encouragement. Its much needed on these long, cold nights with a book on radio navigation in front of me!
UAU