Ashrat, that's exactly the issue that I'm currently facing. Separate and apart from the standard "application received" email that everyone gets I haven't received anything else and 3wks ago would be about the time I applied as well. The entire time i checked my status everyday and only just about 5days ago now i suppose my status bar just disappeared altogether. I hope as well that it doesn't indicate a problem with the apps.
Your friend is lucky to have gotten a response. I also have a friend that applied and got a rejection e-mail quite possibly because he has almost 1500hrs.