I am an Airline Furloughed pilot, take my word I have done it all.
Stay away, and wait to 2010. When its time go and rent a Frasca sim for $30hr
and do approaches, ILS, NDB. Work on your scan until its time. Then back to business when regional's open up. So the first singe of hiring you are going to see is. All high time pilot will leave and go to majors or overseas. So now the regional will have to take in pilot whit 250 hr.This is the name of the game buddy. And please don't go and fly a GA airplane because it will not do you any help. Live in the sim. And try to buy the CRJ Study Guide. Start knowing systems like, Ice and Rain,Pneumatics,Air conditioning,Pressurization,Hydraulics,FMS,APU,Ele ctrical. All of this could you learn by your self if you are a good pilot, and I am from Norway so english was not my mother language and I did it. Let me know if you need any help. And wait tell the doors open.