Highflyer you're completely wrong about the sim being easier for trainees. I have an instrument rating and when I did my sim it was on the 74 classic, their assessment was matched with the direct entry guys (ie. we did exactly the same thing ILS, NDB inteception etc.). Infact speaking to various direct entry guys the trainees infact probably had the harder yard stick as we had to manage 4 engines instead of two (D/E up until recently been doing their sim assessment on 767).
As for basings, BNE and SYD are in greatest demand. Cairns and Canberra in demand but not as great as the aforementioned. As for Melbourne, it is very stable and Mildura (welllll lets face it who wants to move to Mildura...apologies to all the Mildurians
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I know this is a rumour network but would be good if ppl get their facts right before publishing on here.