A DEC with 20 years airline experience and 10 years as captain will (almost) always be a better overall commander than an F/O with 10 years total airline experience.
Positively correct.
I maintain the notion that experience in normal airline operations counts in the left seat, and that's why DECs are here to stay.
Agree.
Those that see themselves as "baby-sitters", I think your comments reflect on your lack of suitability as future Commanders.
Not only that, but suitable for the RHS job as well.
IF I was running EK, I would hire Captains to be Captains, and First Officers to be First Officers...with the proviso that the latter category
might be upgraded, if I felt like it.
SQ had the right idea, many years ago.
At SQ years ago, locals had a well defined career path.
Expats?
You were hired for a specific FD position, period...with a very few exceptions.
When locals were due for Command training, their complete files were checked,
especially the monthly fitness report filed by each line Captain they had flown with, that past month.
Too many black marks?
Rejected for either upgrade to larger equipment, or upgrade to command.
SK (Charlie) Chan, the DFO at the time, ran a tight ship, and his policies kept First Officers on a short tether.
A wise precaution, in my view.