IMHO the introduction of the based DEFO is going to have a great impact on currently employed SOs. However you look at it, the DEFOs must be delaying 'my' upgrade to FO - because there will be (far) fewer right hand seats available, and I expect that CX are not going to make me a JFO just to keep me happy. There is plenty of banter on this forum about the SO kontiki tours (much of which is true), but most of us do want to upgrade sooner rather than later. Moreover, many of us joined knowing that the expansion was happening, so we turned down freighter positions - on the expectation that the SO time would be reducing. DEFO pax can only delay us.
There is a further potential problem with future SYD bases for those of us in HK. Will there be an opportunity now for us to take a SYD base when we have been upgraded, or is it now only available to DEFO entrants? In short, will HK based crew be barred from bidding for SYD in future? Again, I was - and still am - happy to do my HK time, but it was always good to know that I could go home for a while later if required - especially helpful for those of us with kids.
Oh yes, I know that I could bid to go on the DEFO route, but as I AM one of the people that bought a property in HK prior to the 1 year point, if I were to sell it now I would effectively lose my deposit as the stamp duty / bond fees are pretty heavy. Not a hit that I can take on a SOs salary.
Basically not whinging - I was eyes open when I turned down the freighter to come to HK. Pity I didn't have all the information tho' as I would certainly have played things differently whilst I was here.
Overall, I struggle to see how currently serving DESOs who are on page 3 and lower on the seniority list are not going to be affected massively by this policy. It has already been stated by the company that next year there will < 100 SOs upgraded, and by the end of next year the SYD base will be filled with our new FO joiners. Are we approaching the era of the professional SO?
Oh, I voted NO for CoS07 and DEFO too. So were now?