Daysleeper: I'm impressed. That must be excellent training with only two c0ckp1t crewmembers. Having former FE's is a very good idea. Flying very short legs (30 minutes enroute) must be quite a challenge, or is it mostly just after all four engines are started? I can't imagine having a serious system malfunction in a two-person Lockheed turboprop when in congested airspace, even in good weather. An instrument approach must sometimes be briefed, never mind a non-precison and the extra demands for the pilot flying.
How might their workload (especially during winter conditions etc) compare with the newer C-130J (with no FE) or Avro, during normal flying?
A friend just left aviation because his company would not upgrade any F-27 third-year FOs (lots of hours) because hiring outside guys as first-year Captains is cheaper, and he was really fed up with working at night.