Originally Posted by
desertghost
If the application process is so rigorous and the cadets so high quality why not pay them a regular (100%) salary from day one?
Because you are not as experienced as a pilot applying DEFO. It's a bit absurd to expect to make the same salary as an experienced pilot, straight out of flight school.
You don't have the hours in comparison and the salary should reflect this. You start on a cadet salary and it goes up incrementally each year as your experience grows.