Oogle
You fail to understand the UK market. We are JAA now so anybody with a JAA license and is an EC citizen can work in the UK. The JAA license requirements are perhaps a bit stiffer than the old CAA ones
The big companies CHC/Bristow/Bond are now addressing their recruitment regimes and going in for psychometric testing, sim rides etc along with the recruitment of abinitio pilots to fill bonded co-pilot slots.
It is still possible to gain employment as a Non EC citizen but you do need to get the JAA license.
Your comment: -
"I have flown with some Offshore Captains who thought their ****e doesn't stink and who were less than average pilots"
is rather immature and doesn't help your argument.
Yes the theory exams are a bind but like anything in life if you want it you have to jump through the hoops to get it.
Once again economic realities hit the companies when there is a shortage of "suitably" qualified pilots so this has benefited us in our negotiations for increased pay and retention of our pension scheme.
My bubble won't burst until I retire.
332M