Hi woodja,
I don't only have to pass the CAAC sim check yet, but most importantly decide if I'll take the job or not.
I'm still very concerned with the job not really being for PIC, and along with the fact that we have to give a bank guarantee for the 2 year bond makes me believe sometimes that we (the NTR ones) will be stock on some sort of cruise relief positions where we won't be able to log any PIC time and then be upgraded after the 2 years.
I've been explained by my agency that we will always be part of a double crew on long haul flights, which is fine. I'm not familiar with how these flights are logged, but I think the senior Chinese Captain will probably always be operating and logging PIC, and we will only be doing relief and logging P2 time, or whatever they call it.
I agree with you on the B777 choice. But, like you said, a lot of things must happen until that choice comes along...