Some of you think that because the Europeans have been doing this it's OK. The reason that Most non-US airlines have these programs is the ridiculously high cost of flight training to the average European student because of the ridiculously high cost of fuel due to all the government freebie programs/socialism. Fuel is over $8.00 a gallon there and that's why many European kids come to the US for flight training. Our system is much better. Ab-Initio would probably work out OK, if the standards are very high for applicants, but I don't see the airlines paying for rigorous military style training that would make an Ab-Initio program safe and worthwhile.