Maxiumus I disagree,
FR don't pay for training - true...therefore the sponsored pilots will at least have to cough up for the type rating. tough.
Why drop rated guys - they are rated on wrong aircraft ie. BAE 146 so would cost the same to retrain on 737, plus they are the senior chaps on bigger pay etc so why not have cheaper junior guys?
MOL not liking sponsored pilots - don't see why it makes any difference to him as a businessman if he gets 10 or 20 sponsored guys that he hasn't had to pay for, and at least have proven aptitude for flying.
Barney