Couldn’t agree with you more RPC is a very honourable man, but do disagree with the need for DEC. The standard of some DEC and experience has certainly been questionable and given the same training DEC get, some of the FO in the company would produce very good Captains.
Again it comes down to previous management lack of competence in planning of training Captains and training in general. Other companies with far less resources are capable of upgrading within maybe it is time to change the way Gulf Air trains pilot and look at how others do it or get them to help do it.
If Hogan is serious on having an efficient Airline, Flight Ops needs to be looked at because every pilot they lose cost the company, as some Airlines quote approx $60 000 US for initial training. Figures I believe is Gulf Air is losing 6 pilots a month or $4 320 000 US a year in lost profits.
There is also a FO shortage if there is no career in Gulf Air why stay and the planes will still not fly. DEC might solve your immediate shortage but the lack of faith will cause far more to look else where, I will.