KADS (and Hung Start),
I have to clarify on the SAS/SAS Commuter deal when applying for a job within SAS.
As of May 1997, SAS and SAS Commuter integrated their seniority lists, and as a result they also now have a common pilot recruitment programme. This means, that you cannot apply for a job specificly in SAS or SAS Commuter anymore. After passing the tests, you will be offered a job in SAS or SAS Commuter, depending on the needs of the two companies, and to a certain extent, based on your previous experience.
Ab-initios and "low timers" will preferably be employed in SAS Commuter, as it is a more "natural" step to go from a small twin aircraft to Fokker 50 or Q400 than to MD80/B737.
HOWEVER, SAS Commuter cannot only recruit "low timers," because this will create a large problem when SC needs captains. This means that some of the applicants will be offered a job in SC.
Of course you can turn the offer down. You will still be qualified for a job in SAS, but you'll have to wait for the next MD80/B737 course to come up. I know one guy who did this, and had to wait for 8 months for his course to start. As a result, he "lost" 250 places on the combined seniority list, which will mean a hell of a lot when it comes to aircraft and all other biddings the rest of his career and - most importantly - his captain candidate course may be postponed for years. (Depending on the situation in 10-15 years...)
After four years in SC, you are free to bid any aircraft type in the SAS system.
HOWEVER (again...) the number of pilots that SAS may recruit from SC, is limited to 14% of the total amount of pilots in SC (for the time being, 56-57 pilots each year). When yor four years are up, you will probably have 200-250 SC pilots in front of you on the combined seniority list, who are all going to SAS before you.
In addition the fulfillment of your bidding depends on SAS' needs. If SAS don't need pilots on their other A/C at that moment (say 5 or 6 years from now), you may stay in SC for a long time.
In other words - lots of pros, lots of cons, lots of "what have you"s. And God knows what SAS Commuter will look like in five to eight years.
Nick.
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"Pitching down the nose to take maximum advantage of the shape of this highly sophisticated airfoil..."