Art, The majority of CRFOs are not juniors with a couple of hundred hours in a B-76. A large proportion have been captains in SAABs, metros, Jets under 40tonnes etc. Some have heavy jet time in 747, 767s just not the 2000hrs of heavy jet time initially required by VA. The forced move of
VB pilots saw that criteria substanially reduced to 500hrs
VB time for an FO slot in VA. What skills do you think will be learned by the CRFOs flying domesticly in Australia that they don't allready have? Before anyone wanks on about energy management and swept wings have a think about their unsupported operations in to remote and regional airports and the people being taken off the street in to
VB as FOs in the last couple of years and in the very begining. Examples would be unfair to the individuals concerned but anyone in
VB knows what I am talking about. Do you honestly believe that you can take a metro or Dash-8 FO /Capt into
VB as a FO on a 737 but it can't be done in a B777.