Normally after flight training with KLM (KLS at Eelde Airport) you start off as a second officer (somehow called coco)on the MD11, 744 or 743. If times are really good you may also start off as a F/O 737 but this rarely happens.
Being second officer basically means that you are only allowed to occupy a pilot's seat above FL200 i.e. no T/O and LDGs. You will serve as a required (relief) crewmember on long haul flights. This way KLM saves money because an additional F/O or Capt is oof course much more expensive (actually nowadays FO and SO get the same cash).
When demand is high you will serve as an S/O for about a year before being "upgraded" to F/O. The last couple of years demand is very low so many of them have been S/O for more than 3 or 4 years. You can imagine that these guys are getting a bit frustrated and are by many considered to be the best paid passengers in the world!
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