Here...this comment on the article mentioned in the OP sums it up nicely
ninegturn
You all must understand that this is a sponsored article by the Regional Airlines Association actively lobbying Congress to repeal these new safety regulation so they can continue to place low experience pilots in the cockpits of advanced jet airliners previously operated by major airlines. This is not journalism.
Now that the Regional Airlines Association realizes the chances of repeal are low they are looking for subsidies to stay in business. In other words, they want tax payer dollars to continue to support a business model that allows them to cover the costs of a failing business model.
While it's true these new rules will make it more challenging for young pilots to meet their goals of becoming an airline pilot at least the increase in demand will mean when they achieve their goal through hard work they will be looking at more reasonable salaries when they get there.
In the past airlines were mostly self regulating and didn't hire such low experience pilots but this has become the new business model with the promise of higher salaries later in their career. The problem is that as more and more airlines pay less and less there are fewer higher paying jobs and not enough for everyone so some pilots get stuck in the rut for their entire career.
Many of these airlines, such as Republic, are not operating small propeller planes as regional airlines of the past did. These are full size airline jets with as much complexity and sophistication as any large airliner. Do you really want interns flying these planes?
The bottom line is there is no real shortage of qualified pilots, the shortage is in low time pilots willing to work for less than minimum wage anymore. This is why the Regional Airlines Association is lobbying Congress and trying to convince the flying public with these nonsense articles.