Originally Posted by phalanxo

Paying your dues as a CFI is the only realistic option these days... With everybody trying to build 1500 hrs, trust me the few parachute jumper options to go around aren't going to help.. there are very few VFR options and IFR mins sorta mean you still need to instruct most of the way. So... here's my problem with the rule... It's a pyramid scheme. The first CFI's at the top, instruct 10 students all the way through and get their 1500 hrs... second set of CFIs need to find 10 more students to instruct all the way through to get their 1500 hrs... etc.. do the math and you soon realize that it is a pyramid scheme. Yes, some people will earn privates and maybe instruments that aren't looking to go all the way through to CFI and make a career out of things, but with Avgas approaching insane prices, it's just going to be difficult to get enough students to get everybody to 1500. Regional pay going up as a result.. that's not exactly in the business model, and god forbid ticket prices go up to pay for it, so we'll see what happens there, but flight schools are going to have so many CFI candidates they may start charging to be a CFI there... Somebody who wants to get ahead and has SJS may be willing to pay just to instruct for a year.
I realize people think this rule will be a good thing for regional life/pay, and maybe it will be, but remember there are always unintended consequences with any legislation. If it really does cause a shortage, rather than raise pay, they'll hire anybody who comes along with 1500 hrs and an ATP- even if that person won't be pleasant to work with, is unsafe, etc - they need pilots. And if they can't get new FOs, no growth or captain upgrades. This is happening either way - just playing devil's advocate.