Is it no longer possible to self build hours?
I thought that if I clocked up say 1000hrs in my plane, including 100hrs at night, got a CPL/IR (which in Europe means all the 14 ATPL exams), got a type rating for some multi-crew jet, I could then fly RHS in that jet until I have done 500hrs in the RHS, and then my ATPL becomes "unfrozen" and I can move over to the LHS.
I thought that 99% of PPL instructors were doing exactly the above
They certainly used to be.
On the FAA scene the route to the ATPL is potentially different (I could clock up 1500hrs in my plane, including 100 night, and go straight for the ATPL via a CPL/IR (1 exam, 1 checkride) and have a single engine ATPL
Not very useful though... over having a CPL/IR.
I have a son wondering how he can make a living flying and I think the best route may be to get turboprop/jet experience and then you can be a paid pilot for a wealthy plane owner. This can be done on a CPL/IR unless the plane is multi-crew (which most of the bigger business jets are) but an FAA ATPL is reasonably achievable.
Whereas the JAA 500hrs multi crew time (needed for an airline job on a European carrier) is totally beyond what almost anybody can achieve on their own. The only way is to get a RHS job and sit there for 500hrs.