Australian CPLs struggling to get their foot in the door are questioning the "ridiculously high multi engine minimums" for direct entry FO positions when the Airline's own cadets are sitting in the cockpit at 300 hours. Well, its like this: CAO's state [how quickly we forget our Air Law] that to have command in Air Transport Category Regular Public transport operations, to fly as a Captain the minimum requirement to gain command is 500 hours multi-engine PIC experience. So, as a direct entry FO, without this minimum requirement, you ain't getting up graded. As to the cadets, there is a provision in the regulations that allows for company trained, under a fully approved company training system, for cadets to gain a full career with full progression to the left seat within that airline. BUT here's the catch, you are an endured slave to that airline and its seniority system. If you leave that airline, and you do so without 500 hours PIC multi-engine experience, then you become just another career jet FO. Only way out......pay to get multi time....then join the queue.
There is one thing for sure, based on my "professional" experience, is that Australia, in a time when every other Nation State is making it harder and harder for expatriate contract pilots to gain direct entry positions in favour of their own 200-250 hours fresh CPLs, is going 180 degrees in the opposite direction. Despite political correctness, Nationalism and Nationalist labour policies are alive and well. What is it with Australia??? 17 years of looking in from outside......just say'in
