VT-ASM,
I am slightly perplexed and concerned from what you have said. The FTO in the Philippines have stopped the generic MPL. But it sounds that Sharjah are continuing theirs? DO they have plans to follow suite with the Philippines and cease the self sponsored MPL?
Guaranteed interview with Air Arabia means nothing. And may I add to the first few posts that whether it is Clark Aviation in the Philippines of Alpha Aviation Sharjah, the (fatally flawed) concept is still the same and the owners are still the same.
To clarify VT-ASM, IF an airline that operated A320s was taking 170 hour MPL self sponsored A320 cadets, then yes, obviously they are at an advantage. Considering NO airline is, then the Self Sponsored MPL cadets are at a serious disadvantage as they can not fly GA without further ratings.
The MPL is by no means stable yet. Even the FlyBe sponsored MPL cadets that are partnered with Oxford or FTE have a clause in the contract saying that if anything should go wrong with the MPL during the course of the training, then the cadets will be automatically be transferred to the CPL/ MEIR training.
If an airline sponsored MPL is offering this contingency, then it is a no brainer as to how little confidence there is in the MPL in its current infancy. What more for the self sponsored MPL using generic SOPs?