Originally Posted by
VH-FTS
From what I’ve heard the company only have themselves to blame. There are Dash 200/300 FOs who have the seniority and total hours for commands, but lack the company aircraft hours (probably because they are only rostered for 10-20 hours flying per month!). They have successfully bid for the Q400, where they’d fly more hours per month (and achieve the require Dash hours), but the company won’t train them.
I have also heard from those inside that it doesn't help that there is a 5k pay gap between the two fleets.
A common fleet pay between both the classic and the Q400 would solve all the F/O's immediately bidding for the 400 as soon as they can (and therefore resulting in double training and reducing resources for new pilots).