I agree people should take their time and be good at each step before preceeding onto bigger and better. Unfortunately, this industry is monetary based and even though the loan meltdown has slowed flight training it won't stop these programs from placing people into a jet in the future. They are just trying to ride this painful period out like everyone else. What that means is the zero to hero SJS person will always have the resources to get into the right seat.

Having a CFI right now will allow you to be the first in line of the hiring wave. All the furloughed and people currently waiting this period out will either take those jobs or not. Once that pool dries up thats when the system to enable someone to go from no time to jet time will kick in. If someone wanted to not CFI right now they wouldn't have to, and I'd think they could still make it into a jet in a couple of years when hiring picks up. Someone could get a job that pays enough for them to save enough to pay for the zero to hero program in a few years. Either way, if they CFI or not the companies are going to take em'. Its a vicious cycle...