The Mesa thing has been around for a long time now. I wish I had done it, but as a youngster my mind was polluted with idealism. Everyone who I know that choose that route had a much easier ride than I. It is much better to be a struggling 300 hour FO in a new RJ than to be in the right seat of a 152 with a student trying to kill you. I am sure that the first year is difficult but how much help can 1000 hours of instructing really be to an airline? The flying has little in common.

Seems to me that in a few years all regionals will be hiring from cadet programs anyway.

SkyHigh