The recruitment of turbo prop guys was given serious consideration just prior to 0911 but was canned after that and has not been looked at again since there has been no need.
However never say never, and with 3 AC a month arriving from half way next year onwards things may have to change.
The issue with turbo prop guys is not skill, or capability, while time of training plays a small part the bigger issue is probably time to command, as that's when you need the experience under your belt.
To suggest that a 15000 hour dash 8 capt, or a military guy flying an E2C of a carrier, or a C130 around the globe can't fly as an FO on a 777 or 330 is crazy and is typical of the lack of any idea that our higher management has. Many of these guys were flying well before some of our managers were at the EK engineering college learning how to put square blocks in round holes.
Better a quality FO with turbo prop time than some useless prick with 5000hrs on a 747 from banana republic airways. IMHO.
The management of this company need to get their rings into gear and start recruiting like minded, quality pilots and that means FOs, DECs and who ever they can get who meet a standard of quality.
You need to draw the line in the sand somewhere in terms of experience, but in the case of FOs it needs to include turbo prop guys. In the case of DECs it has to include a minimum time on heavy modern jets on global ops, with proper recognized quality airlines, not some low cost ****** off a 737.
Turbo prob guys would serve longer as FOs but that's not such a bad thing, especially if we have to start recruiting DECs again.