In my opinion I would pay whatever sum to go strait to a regional.

Once when introducing myself to a captain at the beginning of a four day trip he asked me about my background. When I came to my bush pilot experience he stated "wow that is good experience". In my mind I had to pause because that statement caught me as odd. Good for what? I had to ask myself.

This guy went straight into a Lear and then to the regionals. Now he was my captain in a 757. In the modern world of aviation what good is experience like that anymore? As a bush pilot you are taught self reliance, analytical thinking and a "can do" attitude. There was no one else there to help you get your plane unstuck. I couldn't call dispatch to work up a new weight and balance when an unexpected passenger showed up. My performance calculations were done by pacing out the distances and going off my gut. If my pax showed up intoxicated and armed TSA was not going to pop out and subdue him. (they probably wouldn't do that at LAX either) I grew into a confidant capable and independent pilot who was use to being in command of highly intense situations. At the end of the day I was overcome with a huge sense of satisfaction and was a nervous wreck.

We were responsible for everything from load and route planning to aircraft selection. How does that help an airline pilot who's company goal it is to become a manual driven automaton? For that matter, what good is being a CFI if your goal is to become an airline pilot? You are taught rules procedures and skills that mostly don't apply to flying 121. In my opinion it just pollutes the mind with conflicting FAR's and emergency procedures.

In my opinion the best route is straight to a regional if at all possible. I would write out the check and never look back. Real pilot experience means nothing anymore and in fact can become a hindrance.

SkyHigh