99jolegg: Here's why airlines should take the cost - BECAUSE this is the only profession where trainees have to bloody pay for it. The government should be paying for it and it's exactly the attitude you expressed that stops that from happening.
If the Government paid for pilot training then why should they not pay for University, which is a prerequisite for many professions that are as highly skilled as being a pilot.
And can you not imagine how many applicants there would be if pilot training costed nothing? It would allow people who do not want it bad enough to take such a financial risk that is currently needed to apply. People who would otherwise not even consider being pilots would take jobs away from those who have always wanted it and would be willing to do whatever it takes.
It is also not the only profession where money is needed although it is maybe one of the most expensive. But as I said, this acts as a brilliant filter to those who would do it on a whim.
Also, seeing as pilots work in the private sector, not the public sector it is incredibly unlikely that the Government would even consider funding pilot training in any way.
This current Government is so incapable of handling tax revenue that it is in a £9 billion tax defecit. As if it's going to blow a few more billion on pilot training
Think about things before you try to shoot someone down.