Originally Posted by
smugglersblues
Not a bad idea, however, this will not happen. The lobby groups employed by the major flight schools coupled with the Freedom From Government Competition (FFGCA) Act will shoot this down.
So it would seem. But why does the merchant marine use this model? Maybe because private schools don't generate enough licensed third mates?
If a real pilot shortage materialized, something like this might come about. It could be justified if nobody was willing to pay what the flight schools charge.
More likely that airlines would just set up their own ab-initio program...if they have a real shortage they wouldn't want to wait years for a federal academy to start producing seat-meat.