Originally Posted by ZippyNH

Honestly...
You are looking at the wrong levels.
The "airlines" be it the regionals, nationals or Major's aren't where people START.
They typically start and learn their craft at smaller companies, gain basic experience and move up....
Biggest issues is nobody pays for their own Training once they are rated...and the companies usually have/need very specific questions asked/information covered, so the online training is made in house (every operator is different, legally and operationaly) and inserted into online training program the company owns or contracts for....some of it is even legally limited in distribution.
for lower levels....many people put out online training...
Some of it paid, some free, of varying quality. However none of it counts as "Training" in the eyes of government, except things done under the FAA "wings" program (towards currency)...
As to adapting....that's a loaded question.
People know the LEGAL LIMITS if the experience levels companies can hire at....and sometimes there are ways to lower it, but at significant costs, more so than the regular HIGH cost to hire a regular employee (a couple months of hotels, meals, classroom time, then aircraft specific Training for pilot's, and lots of on the job training for mx personal).
Only so much can be done on line.... aviation is hands on, be it flying or wrenching. Shortcuts often kill....or can cost seriously$$$$ in damage, late flights, and list revenue.
For decades people in aviation have "paid their dues" to move up, learning along the way, while honing their craft.
A new pilot or s mechanic is a risk... taking several years to break even on Training....so the question always is....unless you can make a person stay, why risk it...just hire experienced people as much as possible.
Many don't understand the industry, and there tends to be a fairly high burnout rate at lower levels...lots if nights, holiday, missed family events. Till a person has a few years and a track record, it's always a gamble.

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