The j41 guys in Aberdeen are very familiar with being maxed out, more j41 guys would be welcomed. Saab captains are working very hard too, it's just the Saab fos who fly 5-700 hours a year. We have had direct entry commands from guys who have never had a command before in other companies and with recent upgrades and some rumoured to happen one year seems minimum time, manual states 2 winters but company does it's own thing. Which is key here seniority means nothing for command if the powers that be like the look of you, congratulations. So however long other people have been fos is irrelevant, it's about you, and whether your lucky there aren't any direct entry guys due to start. A few captains have said it's easier to get dec than upgrade, as they only have seen the good side of you at the recruitment stage. The hours requirement for scs restricts upgrade to an extent on the Saab, although it's recently happened this month. I know the Saab fos believe these guys to be very lucky, and are pleased they have finally been upgraded after having command courses postponed for DECs last year and before the next round of DECs arrive in the next few months. The company ideally wants guys who can operate to scs as captains with 4000 total 2500 pic which is an issue for upgrade, which is why they look for decs.