What is it about the air in Australia that makes it different from the rest of the world? Why is it that every time an employer wants to introduce a new type, they must have pilots with appropriate time on type? It seems very odd to me that types such as the Electra, B707, DC9 and B727 were all successfully introduced without accident or incident, but an ATR72 or B777 requires the importation of current-on-type pilots.
Manufacturers sell these aircraft to operators all around the world, yet we seem to have an almost uniquely Australian requirement to insist on pilots with prior experience on type. No employer is going to miss the opportunity to avoid training costs; why do we tolerate this stupidity?