Before you head off to the right seat of the Dash-8, make sure you have a good deal of time in the left seat of your current aircraft. Major airlines don't care about FO-time on turboprops, they want to see your command ability in action. If you have to wait 8-years to upgrade on the Dash-8, why waste your time.
Here is an option. Keep flying in the left seat and apply to Cathay Pacific for a Second Officer position. You would get the right seat of a wide body in 4-years, maybe less if things start to pick up.
Cathay hires many SO's with PIC time on smaller aircraft. In fact, an A330/340 SO came to Cathay as a Canadian DC-3 captain. He is now a B-777 FO.
The right seat of a Dash-8 will get old quickly. Who knows what other opportunities will come in the next few years.
Just my 2-cents worth. I have 13 years at the Big Airlines - 22 years airline flying total.
good luck in your decision
