In BA you have a tough selection process.
BA does not save money by hiring a low houred type rated pilot instead of an experienced or low houred non type rated pilot. But most of the other airlines do prefer to save the money!
I do know many pilots who joined major european airlines with 250 hours. As a matter of fact, a couple of them happen to be the best captains I have ever had. They also happen to be very talented and intelligent.
You can make a very good pilot from a talented person with a good academic background by providind him or her with good training.
This is how things should be:
- FIRST: SELECTION
- SECOND: TRAINING
- THIRD: if successful training: TYPE RATING
- FOURTH: if succesful: TO THE LINE
SELECTION FIRST is the most important. Thus there is no need for the guys to fight each other with thousands of pounds as ammunition to get hired. But this silly fight is the delight of the greedy airlines.
Oh, How I wish that this system gets changed!!