G-spots&cricketer.....
Agree for the most part. I did al my training in the U.S. through a relatively structured airline ab-initio program. I got lucky, finished all my ratings in 14 months and got hired into a 1900 with 207 hours (in the U.S.)
I have seen so many of these high priced programs that promise the world but cant get you into a job. I firmly beleive however that if the business model and training program (read facilities also) is right then competant, standardised 250 hour pilots are possible and cost effective for the airlines to hire.
The basis of this argument is military training. The military obviously can train pilots to fly high performance jets (transport incl) in quite low time, however with a budget incompatable with an airline in a copetetive market. Despite this, its not impossible for flight schools to run these programs successfully, however the key is to have the airlines taking all their graduates, or at least have a garunteed interview. I cant tell you how many of my peers went through these programs only to come out with not even the slightest prospect of a job with twice the dent in their bank accounts.
Alternatively, these programs should be airline driven, like qantas does. Interview the 0 time pilot to see if you want him/her, hire them into a cadet program, they pay the 100k but get the job if they pass the final.
these programs arent all bad.....i think its just bad business models and programs that fail the consumers (you and I)
just some thoughts
