Im sorry steve, but as a low time wannabe I cant agree with you. Flight training is expensive enough without the extra costs that you propose.
I understand your intent, however I think that you may be looking at the problem from the wrong end.
As has been stated earlier in the thread the days of pilots rocking up with massive time, and experience are comming to an end. What is prehaps needed is away to make it possible for low time guys to get the required experience.
Since the airline industry has already been mentioned, how many airline pilots start out as captains?
None they start out as FOs and then gain the required experience. How many positions exist like this for helo pilots?
Rotary wing operators have benefited over the years from the glut of experienced Nam pilots, with the experience pool getting shallower its time to start investing in the next generation of pilots trying to make their way through.
Maybe Im looking at it the wrong way. However as Im still looking for the first rung of the ladder to start my climb, I know theres a long way to go, with little or no help to look forward to.
The best way to solve this, I dont know.
Perhaps some sort of a cadetship with a return of training obligation. Where a lowtime pilot can sign up with a company, to gain experience (like an apprenticeship) with a 3 month trial period (make sure everyone is happy), and the pilot is then obligated to stay with the company for a given period.
This would give the low time pilot valuable experience, while giving the operator an experienced pilot who is trained in the ways of that particular company.
Maybe its unworkable, but some sort of system for lowtime pilots to gain experience would be of value to the industry, IMHO.