G'day Frate,
If you confirming that only two out of the last five F/O's got through and are starting command training next month, then I think a couple of really good guys who are ready for command have been hard done by, in my opinion!! But then again I have only flown with them a number of times over the last 3 or 4 years and never did the one of assessment flights as the checkers would have done!!
Ok so Tim got through but Larry missed out hey.......I'm really surprised I thought they would have both passed no worries. I hope the company backs Larry up and that he gets another go real soon. I'm sure it was a miner little thing and if they rebook him a check soon with the usual retraining etc....he will pass.
I agree the numbers as you mentioned 125 Capt, 110 F/O at the moment are not desperate. But to keep the numbers at this level, if we recruit 50 F/O's a year you need to upgrade 25 F/O's to Capt to keep the numbers at the same level.