I am quite close the recruitment process [for the cadet program] of one of the main airlines here in Hong Kong. Having a PPL is not necessarily a plus, what is much more important (for them) is the attitude (personality), passion and social skills. The more experience you have in aviation is of course a benefit.
I also second the suggestion made by BackPacker: gliding. How many times did that experience save lives when forced to do a deadstick landing? The latest famous case being the ditching of an A320 in the Hudson under command of Captain Sullenberger. I am not sure but I think that Captain Piché and his famous landing in the Azores was also helped by his experience in gliding. Not known at all but also remarkable is the perfect deadstick landing, some years ago, of an C150 in a extremely small rice paddy in Thailand by a British retired airline pilot (Tony S) - he has over 4000 hours gliding experience under his belt.
Last edited by XLC; 1st Dec 2011 at 23:13.