Way back in 1989 Gulf Air was short of pilots and hired about 8 expat,relatively high time turbo-prop pilots as 737 Second Officers, bonded for five years. Half the costs of training on the 737 were to be recovered by salary deduction over the five years. F/O status came at the end of some fairly rigorous sim and line training - about 12 sim sessions followed by some 85 or so sectors interspersed with more sim sessions - which followed closely the progression of the EK Cadets in terms of handling below 10000', safety pilot cover, take offs and landings etc. With one exception (who baled out to pursue a different career in running a very successful bar in Bahrain), all were successful, and after about two years on the 737, moved on to the 767 and long haul destinations in Europe, Asia and, yes, Darkest Africa A sensible progression. All subsequently became long haul wide body Captains (not necessarily in GF), and a few are still flying for various Royal Flights around the Gulf. None, as far as I am aware, had any untoward incidents.
It can be done, given the right training, and attitude from both sides
Just saying...to quote other posters.
7B