I would tend to agreewith the sentiment, however, the companies have to solve the problem of today and not one which may not be around in 5 yrs. The shortage of experienced crews is only going to get worse in the forseeable unless something substantial is achieved now. I believe this for two reasons;
1- high time co-pilots and junior captains will still leave to either fixed wing or other rotary jobs. To fixed wing for the money (in most cases an increase in pay to join the bottom rung of the ladder). To onshore rotary jobs for a change of seat and still probably an increase in salary. We seem to have forgotten that onshore salaries have caught us guys who have to wear rubber and fly in crap, whilst we have seen our pay and conditions deteriorate.
2- We will not attract the young keen pilot into rotary whilst we offer what we have now. This situation has been exacerbated with the implimentation of JAA licenses and the associated increase in cost. Who in their right mind is going to undertake a rotary license at a cost of £50k+ when he/she could spend £30k for a f/w ATPL with the better prospects at the end of it!
This situation is set to get even worse at the end of the year with the introduction of the JAA abridged ATPL(H) IR to ATPL(A) exams, making a fixed wing conversion from rotary one hell of a lot easier than it is at present.