In response to the article.....Academies like DCA always seem to be pushing this looming "pilot shortage" when times get tough. So what if you cant qualify for a fat loan to rip through your ratings. There are other paths, they just require you to work harder. How about working full time while living below your means to pay for your flight training on the side. Can't get a job in this economy? How about serving your country for a few years and using the GI bill to pay for your flight training? I know a guy who went to truck driving school (a perennial favorite joke around here), drove for a year, lived in his truck, and then took a year off to do all of his single engine stuff. He then returned to driving truck for another year to pay for his CFI and multi-engine time. He has a very good flying job right now. My point being, that the airlines, banks and others should not be responsible for everyone who wants to be a pilot actually becoming one. The individual should. I'm fairly certain that DCA had their own interests in mind more so than that of the aspiring pilot when they held this round table.