The reason the company has started to accept external applications is because the last bid import before this one went so low on the list. The last inactive pilot on that import was only about 70-80 from the bottom of the list. The reason for this was because they were primarily filling ADL and PER FO slots.
The most resent import was for SYD ans MEL FO slots, and as a result they were filled by inactive pilots much higher on the list. This highlights the fact that the vast majority of inactive pilots on the list probably only have bids in for east coast bases.
Don’t be surprised if some external applicants get picked up for courses before we have exhausted the inactive pilot list. Especially if they are willing to accept any base in the network.