I pretty much agree that 200-250 Hr TOTAL time- Fresh out of a cessna-CPL holders were really lucky to be at the right place at the right time, some 4-5 years ago.
Anyone WITHOUT a job, would jump onto a turboprop airliner when the Jet option is totally ruled out.
Are we forgetting that even at the peak of hiring in the late NINETIES, the min reqmt for pilots to even get considered for an interview spanned from 500 Total w 50 Multi to 1000 Total w 100 Multi.
A lot of new CPL holders back from flying wherever, dont/didnt even have a multi engine rating.
It was almost taken for granted that if the requirement to get a Commercial License was 200 hrs, one is ENTITLED to it at 200 (didnt matter what the skill level is).
Where would anyone get the initial 500-1000 hours of flying experience?
So yea.....they wont have any problems filling up the seats of the Dash 8s.