From BPF:
You are right there is a big gap between what FO's are getting now and what they would need to pass a ATP ride and that is exactly where the problem is. I fail to see why doubling the training footprint to allow new hires to get to the required standard is in any way bad. One thing is for sure the airline bean counters consider pilot training a "cost" that must be minimized. The only way the bar is going to be raised is if the industry is forced by regulation to increase training. There is no way the airlines are going to do that on their own.
Well, somebody is going to have to pay for this...the Regionals are on a shoestring (considering they have to pay millions to their CEO's owners, etc, and these costs are fixed). Two possibilities: expenses taken out of pilot/workers pay, or standards for ATP will be lowered. I suspect pressures will be put on Checkers to lower the standards, to lower the costs of training. Pilot/worker pay is now about as low as it can go.