as an italian I think I'm one of the few lucky EU citizen to be able to complete a CPL/IR+MCC+T/R on heavy jet for less than 70k euro and without having to comply with this JAA-hell, which is what I'm trying to do before jars will destroy aviation here too. About pilot shortage I think this is not true, airlines are not short of pilots, they are short of pilots willing to pay a load of money+accepting the risk not to get the job. I don't know why there are a lot of guys willing to pay 75k pound for a job (not granted). here in italy a f/o usually gets about 2500-3500 euros less 50% taxes and maybe even bonding. with 20k you can attend a private university and get a master degree and then get a 5000 euros x month job (yes I know we love flying).
so are we going to madness? alitalia started its own school asking 80k euros for ab-initio+mcc without type rating and without job, and they are full.
I can't understand why.
many airtaxi companies here do not have payed f/o they only have f/o who pay for flying.
an instructor of mine uses to say:"working as a pilot is for rich people but rich people are too clever to work as a pilot".
bye