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.
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