So if you are 3 years or more in the company base, you are not guaranteed to get it, if already all those places are taken?
In our company as soon as you become SFO you can get fixed pattern if you wish.
However this also applies for people joining with experience that qualifies as SFO or Captain.
The point I am making that if SAS again reaches a point of no recruitment for 15 years, you risk being stuck on variable roster for the same period.