scroggs - the days of co-piglets arriving on sqns with 300 or so hours are long since gone. Nowadays they only have about 20% of the PIC hours required for a CPL and a total time of around 200 hours at best....
They don't even have Basic Flying Training School experience any more - they go straight from elementary flying training to a short pre-multi engine course, then fly the King Air.
Even though they have been through aptitiude testing, when they get to their Operational Conversion Units, many do indeed struggle. Not due to ability, but lack of experience and training.
This ar$e Microsoft Pilot Licence is not viewed as acceptable by many. Who is supposed to pay for the training - the airline or the 'pilot'?
The French are totally against it - it wouldn't surprise me if they announced that the MPL will not be acceptable for any flights in French airspace.
It would be interesting to see what the pilot unions will have to say about these MPL knob-twiddlers.
Basic VFR CPL plus UK IMC Rating and MEP Class Rating - then do all the 2-person crew stuff and further IF in the type simulator.