Well it still doesnt make sense to me. There will still be a lengthy selection process for these cadets They will still be inundated with applications and they will still get lots of muppets and chancers applying. At least with qualified people they know they are getting somebody that can pass the ATPL's and can actually fly. I assume there would be a sim check and the same lengthy selection process would weed out anybody unsuitable. I think this is more about the ££££ than anything else.
I have read a few interviews from pilots that never really thought about a career in aviation until they saw an advert in a magazine, thought it could be an interesting job and are now flying for the likes of BA. This when there are many unemployed and qualified people out there that have always dreamed of flying for a living and may never get the chance. It shows what a messed up industry this is.
I know there will be people out there that are just now cut out for the job, we have all met people like that, but there are many others who would make good pilots and have an interesting background that would also make them good company in the cockpit.
If I were in recruitment for an airline I would be opening it up to low hour fATPLs and paying for the TR whilst bonding them for 5-7 years. You would be able to select the best of what im sure would be lots of applications and build a loyal workforce that enjoys the job.
This would probably never get passed the commercial and HR departments in most companies nowadays though
