Maggot,
Yep, that's a good point also.
AirNoServicesAustralia,
My point is that if your colleagues are silly enough to hop on a position that they are not endorsed on ... well, they'll likely get what they deserve. Pity about their families though.
When I'm paying $2500 to fly to London at 35,000ft, I don't want, nor would I accept, an unendorsed pilot up the front, whose job was to monitor the lights and buzzers ... and then come and get the captain if something happens. I want someone there to take over immediately if the autopilot dis-engages.
I assume ASA has passed this by CASA and it has been signed off.