The policy stated in the FOM is probably as your friend claims.
End 2005, EK published FCI 2005-131, valid as from 1 Jan 2006.
ACCELERATED COMMAND CRITERIA – ON SAME TYPE
The criteria as listed in the Operations Manual – Part A remains unchanged; however, the minimum 8000
hours total time will now be amended to include flying hours experienced in Emirates.
Again, this is the policy today, it might be different tomorrow and will probably change again next week or so... EK management has no long term view and only short term solutions, with the known results.
MR8