A few thoughts :
1. Giving OCU studes exposure to both seats early is more affordable and time-efficient in the long-run. A Captain's course can then concentrate on tech revision, more challenging sim and air scenarios and (particularly for the Maritime & AWACS fleet) increasing knowledge of tactics and mission operations.
2. A P1 qualification on the OCU should be given when the QFI's are happy with the studes ability to cope with operating from either seat. There is plenty of opportunity to use the SIM to prove this ability in a number of demanding emergency scenarios.
3. This approach has caused no problems on the E3 (a large swept-wing jet with big assy issues). The only people who get it wrong are senior officers who don't fly often enough!!
4. The seat issue is only an issue for those Capts not holding a RHS ticket in either Boom or Probe AR, in which case the Copilot is stuck in the right.
5. The E3 has only flirted with 2 Gp and although we have inherited some Cr*p from it, luckily we have avoided this inflexible constraint.
Standing by for incoming :-)
Mystic Meg - Good to hear from you again!