Originally Posted by Bustin
Do you think flight time is more important than a quality foundation? Why would a 500 hour CFI in a Cessna be more qualified to fly right seat in a CRJ than a 250 hour pilot with a DC-9 type rating and 14 months of CRM and human factors training?
The quality foundation that you refer to is called experience, I still don't think there is a way to shortcut that. You can take just about anyone and train them rote recite "light, switch, checklist". However, a 250 hour wonder with CAPT experience has no business in the cockpit of a 121 carrier's aircraft in [insert a phase of flight that requires aeronautical experience in excess of what a 250 hour pilot can bring to the table].
There is NO shortcut to gaining experience, you want to fly like a 5000 hour pilot...go fly 5000 hours.