he said that in his company (presumably FR) a 1000 hour FO is still restricted to a 15kt x-wind limit
No, you presume incorrectly as he's most certainly not working for FO if that's the limit at his airline.
I think VJW's point was to do with experience. I believe he used the example of his airline's crosswind limit to emphasise the point that many airlines do not regard sub-1000 hours as 'experienced' and therefore put restrictions on what they regard as inexperienced pilots. I don't think he mean that
he believed that pilots with less than 1000 hours
can't physically manage a 16kt crosswind. A subtle difference.
Hang on, why an I trying to speak for him?!
I haven't the foggiest what he really meant!
