Steve76,
I think the way you feel is normal, in a perfect world maybe employers would look at these moral issues when hiring someone, maybe value someones effort and determination and not just flight experience.
But now you tell me, if you were the owner of a 2 ship company and you knew you couldn't afford any mistakes, who would you hire? 1500hr. R22 pilot with nothing more than monotonous instruction experience, or a 600 hr. exmilitary guy who has flown into ships, is highly trained, has gone thru a selection process, knows his way around a turbine, has flown with many different more experienced pilots, etc. Honestly, I know who my choice would be in regards to experience.
(I have never been military)
There is one difficult thing about being a line pilot, and that is finding replacements is always easy, not like replacing a good lawyer of doctor, You don't need superpowers, or an infinite amount of experience to become a pilot.
If required companies/organizations can make pilots from scratch quickly, it happens all the time, here's a story.
We have a company called Heliservicio Campeche which is a GOM operator, (AirLog Subsidiary has even the same colors pic included) every couple of years they have a need for new pilots, old ones get too bitchy and demanding so it is easier to make new ones.
They gather all the necessary permits, and round up some local very young private pilots and put them into the 212/412 as paid copilots, say 2 years later depending on company needs, off they go to FlightSafety sim training and come back as B212/412 PIC's with more than 1500 offshore hours and the good fortune of having flown with experienced pilots.
Now they are a few levels below of a pilot who has worked many years, but nobody complains because that is how the system works, I can't complain because I was one of those copilots once, I got my break, I have to let others get THEIR break. Even if others had to go thru hell to get to their flying position.
I am VERY aware that I choose a JOB in which when I get old, bitchy, and want to make as much money as someone who went to college, I will probably be replaced by a kid who had the money and determination to get himself the hours, OR had the stomach & need, to endure military living for some of the best years of his life (high price to pay for ANYTHING) and get himself trained.
I just feel I am being honest with myself about my job.
