Now don't take my word for this, because anything that CASA does can be quite, shall we just say, 'unique'. HOWEVER, even for CASA, the notion that a pilot could do all the necessary to obtain a MPL only to be sentenced to the term of his/her natural working life in the F/O seat beggars belief. I say that's bullsh!t. Someday CASA will be dragged kicking and screaming to ICAO-harmonised licencing standards. The MPL is part of that evolution.
The MPL is intended to create airline pilots. Including, eventually, airline captains. So, do your research, get undertakings in writing (including details of the host airline's ICUS plans for the future) before you spend your money. If the MPL path suits your career aspirations, training needs and budget, do it.
Ignore the old argument about whether a few years of hard yards flying a VFR single out of Bumfcuknowhere would make you a better captain. You could also argue that a few space missions would make all of us better pilots, just like 10 years before the mast on windjammers would make us better sailors. Nice sentiments, but not relevant. The times they are a changin'.
Last edited by Mach E Avelli; 5th Jun 2013 at 10:00.