Not to be dramatic, but Airline Pilot Central Forums turned my head around about what goes on in this industry. People who don't read APC or the one other such forum like it don't really know what's going on. I originally thought hours are king for new pilots, and was prepared to do some rather foolish things- not as foolish as Gulfstream, but still foolish- to get them. I would not have known about the recent dropping of hiring mins without reading about it here first, nor would I have known about the ultra low pay FOs receive. I think the latter may change by the way.

Case in point, I have a friend who spent 65,000 on a multiengine airplane in the pursuit of ME time. This airplane was a total lemon and he ended up spending another $50,000 due to rotten engine mounts and worn out landing gear. When I told him some places are down to 50 hours ME for applicants, he just about fainted. He could have avoided the whole thing if he had known that, and flown them at the local FBO.