Playing the Skymark lottery is indeed lots of fun
Training is now close to 12 months if you show up without a JCAB license, then it's only 8 months
Depending on who is the company checker and/or JCAB checker you may pass your check on your first attempt. It has little to do with your skills and more to do with politics.
Attrition is high here and that is the main reason Skymark is running continuous training classes.