Mate.............
You are putting far to much reliance on hours.............
How is your interviewing technique?.....your ability to breeze through the pre employment testing?....your tracking record, appearance, proven motivational aspects....these are what the industry is focusing on now.
If you really rang a number of local operators, all you got was the standard answer.......
If you fit the bill, and they want you....a few hundred hours will not be a consideration.
All you have to do is to become the wanted one!!!.....the one that stands out in the crowd....the one that has gone that extra mile......ok ok I will bid you goodnight now.