Originally Posted by rickair7777

Not surprising. Doesn't replace experience, but it does accomplish several things...

1. Let's the FAA off the hook, they can justify reduced hours with more training which, while it doesn't substitute for actual experience, looks good on paper.

2. Let's the airlines avoid having to pay new-hires more to attract qualified applicants. That's problematic because...
a) Under a CBA the old-hires will want more too.
b) If contractual rates rise across the board, it's hard to undo them later without Ch.11.

This way the airlines throw money at additional training, but only for the duration of the pilot shortage. Once market conditions change, they can shift the training cost back to the applicants.