SkyWest will take you with 975, 1225, or 1475 depending on what R-ATP mins you fall under. They will interview you even before you hit RATP-25 mins if you're within 3 or 4 months of getting your time.

Nothing would surprise me at this point

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Why is it the best thing that happened again?

The only place I know that takes low time pilots is Penair. You fly the two 135 SAABs, then once you get your ATP you move over to the 121 side.

Only time will tell. If it really starts affecting the economy and makes the evening news on a regular basis, something will have to change. Either a rule change in the hours, a large increase in starting pay, or majors just giving up the regional model and acquiring them completely with a stapled pilot list.

Just wondering though, are there enough instructors / newly licensed commercial pilots to even fill the jobs if they changed it back to 500 hours ?

To the noobs...

The reason the airlines are interviewing people months before they meet mins is because they want to get you "locked in", ie comfortable with a job offer and emotionally committed to the company after passing their grueling ten minute phone interview.

I would not fall for that, but rather keep your options open. If you accept a "delayed-entry" offer and later decline they might blacklist you...I'd make sure you understand their policy/ramifications before you accept a job that you may not show up for. ESPECIALLY if the carrier is wholly-owned, and most especially WO DCI.

If you decide to decline a previously accepted job offer, be sure and give plenty of notice (two weeks at least I would think). Write them a letter, say something about "family circumstances" or something along those lines. DO NOT simply no show a class date.

Things are changing fast in the regional world... a few months from now you might be eligible for as fat signing bonus that wasn't available when you accepted an early offer.

There's no need to accept an early offer for job security...they'll rescind that offer or send you packing on day two of ground school if it's even slightly convenient for them to do so.

1. You really don't want that. So what if you have to build a little time like most other airline pilots in history had to do? The upside to the 1500 hour rule is that it will pay dividends for the remaining 40 years of your career.

2. As much as low-time CPLs and regional airline CEO's whine, there's no chance the 1500 rule will be rescinded any time soon. Congress forced the FAA to do it via legislation so only Congress can undo it...by legislation. The colgan families will never forget or forgive so I think it will decades before it can changed, unless massive, sustained disruption of air service occurs. But the airlines can always just replace three RJs with a narrow-body, cutting the crew requirement by 1/3 to carry about the same number of pax.

I would add to this that Sully Sullenberger is (deservedly) a hero in Congress' eyes and is very pro-active in opposition to any relaxation of the new law. He has a very potent voice on Capital Hill when it comes to aviation safety and walks in lock-step with the Colgan families.

And the last thing any Congressman/woman wants is Sully Sullenberger explaining to a news outlet why he/she is thoughtless and wrongheaded about the public's safety.

Forget about changing the law. Ain't happening.

And that's a wonderful thing. Maybe the best thing to happen for the pilot groups in decades.

Spot on.

It's simple economics. Fewer pilots + increased demand for pilots = higher pay

Anyone interviewing early for the Regionals is playing right into mgmt's hands. Don't do it.

Hold out. Wait until you're ready to go to work for them right away. Doing so puts MORE pressure on Co. mgmt to increase pay & signing bonuses sooner rather than later.

(Assuming, of course, there actually IS a "pilot shortage". YMMV)

Perhaps you are right and I am just looking at it the wrong way