I think one of main reason they are looking at hiring DEC (if they are), is due to the icadet program
….The plan was to bring qualified people in to this program on reduce pay and condition have them be a SO for couple of years and then move up the ladder to JFO,FO, CA…..will it didn’t pan out as they thought it would
….most if not all the icadet are low /no time guys, it will take CX few yrs to train these guys to be ready to take on the duties of SO…until such time they can’t upgrade any SO to JFO and than FO, if they do, they will be short on SO….same goes for the FO. When a company hires DEC it usually means they are short on FO… Beside it cheaper and easier to hire DEC… all it takes is one training event not 3