As I understand it, this requirement comes at very short notice; it requires A320 rated crew to be able to start yesterday. I read a comment on a forum from a bmiR pilot last week who did, indeed apparently have a rating. If that is so, then he/she certainly deserves a shot at the position. I understand BALPA are looking into it. There's certainly been no talk of excluding bmiR pilots from the process; I think some comments on other forums about the perceived "attitude" of mainline towards bmiR are way off the mark, also. The primary driver in this requirement is the speed at which these guys can get their @rses strapped to an A320, a type rating course is going to be measured in months.