Buster,
QF has employed about a dozen AN 737 F/O's, 9 on contract and 3 as direct entry seconded to the 737 on a temporary basis. A good dozen other AN pilots have been employed as 744 S/O's. We have as a group no problem with temporary contracts to cover short term requirements - training is at full speed on the 737 I believe. All NZ domestic flying is by contract pilots in old AN aircraft - QF colours.
The biggest grievance is the company using charter aircraft on trans tasman flying. Pilots have very unstable rosters as this flying is taken away from them, mid roster, and given to charter operators. Thank goodness we use airbridges so that at least you get the pax onboard before they can realize their QF ticket did not actually get them on a QF plane - QF pilots or flight attendants. <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> <img src="mad.gif" border="0">