The, 'OMG it's scary' ATPL skills test consists of an LPC plus ........ a manually flown ILS
(shock, horror)
Hardly a ground breaking departure from the standard LPC/OPC schedule. The rest is purely meeting the flying hours requirements and having the sim instructor tick the relevant box on the LPC form. Add to that the usual financial bung chucked at the CAA to issue a smelly green plastic folder and some dodgy printed sheets of paper.
Many airlines REQUIRE the FO to take the ATPL skills test as soon as possible otherwise a pay freeze is applied. Also any LH FO will require to be a fully qualified ATPL holder on 3 crew LH sectors where the Captain is scheduled bunk rest and he/she is nominated as the Captains relief. (
no pun intended).
As to experienced crews floating around, there are alot of them! It seems to be that the current rating to have for SH is and Airbus rating and for LH it would seem to be 777 or the 787 when it comes.