Originally Posted by
Skyhawk121
I have to disagree with this. While it would help the shortage not have as large of an impact if the hour requirement was not where it currently is, if you look at any of the data out there, the shortage is primarily "due" to the amount of mandatory retirements taking place over a decade or so.
Yes. The shortage at the entry level is more due to faster movement, plus some generational issues, ie some millenials not interested in a job with dues up front, no dope allowed, rough schedules, dress codes, etc.
There is probably a slim segment of potential entry level pilots who would go for it if they could skip the whole CFI drill and go right to an RJ, but I think that's a small sliver of the demographic, ie re-instating 250 hour airline pilots would not make any significant difference.
The biggest barriers are cost of entry, ie training and also opportunity cost for career-changers. The fastest "fix" would be airlines funding flight training, and I think that's probably coming before too long. If they fund it (maybe all, but probably partial) they can call the tune, ie CFI at their academy and the fly for their regional.