Originally Posted by
VH DSJ
The two issues are completely different IMO. The US regionals are employing Australians on the E3 visa because they have insufficient pilots who meet the FAA minimums to fly for a part 121operation. Qlink on the other hand have a steady supply of pilots who meet their minimum requirements, but are being bypassed for foreign pilots assumingly to save time, money and resources on training locals.
Not sure I'm following your logic. How would hiring foreign pilots save time and money? At least in the US, a new hire pilot, whether he barely meets the minimum requirements, or is very experienced in the aircraft still must go through the identical training at a Part 121 Airline. Does an airline in Oz get to say, "Well you're already flown the Dash 8, we will just give you an abbreviated training program and put you right into the airplane?"