Just to break down the "does the airline pay for this" bit. Some airlines pay for it all - ie; cost of the sim, flights home, time off, per diems etc. Others pay zero, say it's your problem, and others do variations in between. Given the costs involved, you need to ask, break it down also, and get it in writing. It's easy to say airlines should pay for it all, but some other expat there has probably set a prededent already, and the airline won't give you any more than they've conceded to someone else already.