aa73,
Respectfully, you yanks clearly don't understand European aviation. In the States, you no longer have ab initio flight training where it is possible to get hired into an A320 at 400 flight hours. Looks like your new laws will require 1500 hours and an ATP to get hired onto a Beech 1900D or a CRJ. Different context here in Europe.
So, if you are an E145 driver and you aspire to flying for an Airbus operator, you will go to the right-hand seat whether you have 10,000 hours as a Captain on the E145 or you are hired from the right-hand seat. Super unlikely that you will go from left seat to left seat. So, why not get the type rating and move directly into the Airbus and start gaining "valued" experience in a very popular type sooner than later? That is the point. This is not the United States - ab initio pilots with 500 total hours and a type rating are competing for the available A320/19/21 and 737NG slots out there. Plus, having an Airbus type and as much flight time on type (better to build that time sooner than later) could be viewed as decent career insurance in case more European airlines tank financially. Although less appealing, you can find Airbus jobs in the Middle East, Asia and even wild Africa if your Euro carrier collapses. An E145 type is not as popular or likely to pay as well unless you want to fly a Legacy bizjet abroad. If you want to fly an E145 for your career - good for you - upgrade and enjoy your career (and hope your airline does not fail or downsize).
Why not get the more valuable and marketable type on the A320 sooner? My preference might differ from others and that is fine. We may all have different opinions and we will all be lucky to have jobs in a few years if the economy continues to decline.
