So for all of you that thinks experience shouldn't matter. Why don't we just have ab initio directly into the left seat? If you think 125k to get enough training to feel comfortable flying the 190 and can handle all situations, why not just hire directly for the left seat? If any of you think it would be just fine, you do not know enough to be a pilot period. Like I said in the past feel free to have a miserable life in the right seat and don't expect me or any other pilot teach you anything on the line. You will be scrutinized written up and completely ostracised until you quit.

Seems like a lot to pay to just quit after a year.

No one has said experience shouldn't matter and no one has proposed that question except you, for obvious reasons. It is, however, reasonable for someone to go into the right seat after a rigorous and airline focused training program, with the guidance and leadership of an experienced Captain. Many global, established airlines with excellent safety ratings seem to think so.

There mere existence of the Regionals proves this as they use this exact same model and operate thousands of flights daily, safely.

Where did anyone say a graduate of this program would be comfortable handling all situations? No amount of experience and hours can guarantee that. Why is it acceptable to spend the same amount of money and become a FO on a CRJ but not an E190? Same airspace, same airports, same responsibilities for human lives.

As someone who truly wants to join the industry, this is probably one of the most disheartening things I've read in a while. Focus your anger and frustration at airline Management who greedily created this horrible system (have you seen their salaries recently?), not those trying to be a part of change.

My opinion: this program is a slap in the face to every regional pilot with an app in at JetBlue.

When I was at WIA a month ago, the folks at the JB booth looked at my resume with 3000 TT, and told me they wouldn't even consider me until I have 6000 hours (and presumably threw it in the 'shred' pile). Yet they had just hired a bunch of pilots with 0 TT off the street that they are going to train up. That pretty much summarizes what I and a bunch of other regional pilots think of this program....

I completely understand your sentiment and do not support that aspect of the program. Pilots more qualified and with more experience should be given spots ahead of ab-initio graduates. I hope JetBlue still plans for that to be the case.

Keep in mind no one has actually been accepted into this program. The title of this thread is wrong. He has merely been approved to give JetBlue $200 to continue on with his application. The first graduates of the program wouldn't hit the line until late 2020.

JetBlue is projected to hire almost 400 pilots this year. Assuming all of the first class of 24 graduates finish and start in the projected year of 2020 (which they probably won't), that's ~6% of JetBlue's new pilot pool for the year, with well over 90% of new hires still coming from the Regionals and other operators.

If the supply of new Regional pilots continues to diminish as projected over the coming years (assuming no change in compensation), JetBlue has a model in place to address this. If anything, this puts further pressure on the Regionals to address reduced supply.

It may seem unfair from a labour standpoint, which is a very valid point. However, one can't make the arguments based on safety, because there are similar programmes throughout the world which have worked for decades. These airlines are no less safe than those in the US. In fact, many have better safety ratings, for what that's worth.

There are valid arguments, but safety isn't one of them.

Also, don't hate the player. The guy who is awarded a place on the scheme will be good calibre, high in aptitude, and a low training risk. He or she have done nothing wrong, they've just taken an opportunity that was presented to them. Will it work out? Who knows, but save your angst for the managers that are doing it to line their own pockets.

The only reason we don't have more accidents in general is because of the high reliability of turbine engines and automation that takes the mental math (and associated pilot errors) out of the equation most of the time. When I was an instructor at FlightSafety I tested my theory. Face it: everyone knew in advance what the footprint for recurrent consisted of. So I switched it (off the record, I.e. Didn't count it towards training): I gave them a V1 cut as the first thing we did (everybody expected a normal TO to airwork). 95% went off the runway or rolled it on takeoff - regardless of experience level. I'm strongly opposed to gateway 7, but that's food for thought.

I could care less if you want to be a part of this industry. My a get is to you and every other person that thinks this short cut is a good thing for the industry. You will not have enough experience to perform at a high level if something goes wrong. These so called "airlines " around the world ha e regional they put their pilots in and they work there way up. Cathays pacific has a cadet program and those cadets do not touch the controls. Asiana has the type of system you so desire and you see what happened to their SFO flight when the tried to do a basic visual landing. This program stinks and I'm sorry your feelings are hurt but that's nothing compared to how bad they will if you actually try and go through the program.

Check your facts, Cathays pacific has a cadet program and they don't not touch the controls. The are just seat relief. Asiana crashed with those type of trying guys because they could not perform a simple visual. The other airlines have Regionals they put there guys in to work there way up. The only reason they do is is because the cost of training is so high there would not be any pilots oliver on europe. Yes I will hate the players for trying to bypass a system that has never been a problem in the past. Captains will have the burden of these guys and that's not right. This will end soon I hope.

What's your solution, then, other than proclaiming your goal is to make people's lives miserable simply because they don't want to endure the same lifestyle that pilots complain about on these very forums? Feelings are definitely not hurt, but five minutes and an internet connection is all it takes to realize the current model is broken.

Also, which you seem to ignore, how do Regional pilots get by every day? Why does this not apply to Regional FO's? How are they managing on the same experience? You just give them a pass because that's the way it is? Are the lives in the back of the plane not as important on a Regional flight?

So, I can instruct people to fly around in familiar airspace and buzz around the pattern in a 172 until 1,500 hours, then that's okay for me to start as a FO at a Regional? That's all I have to do?

Regarding European airlines, the difference is pay. Many of their ab-initio programs are sponsored, too. Airlines like British Airways pay back the entire cost of training for graduates of their ab-initio program who stay with the airline. That's a great incentive and last time I checked BA flights weren't dropping out of the sky.

The regionals put guys in the right seat with 1500 hours because they have to. They can't recruit guys with more experience because their pay is awful. We don't have a problem with recruiting experienced pilots and I don't foresee us having a problem recruiting in the future either. This program is completely unnecessary for Jetblue. It's a waste of money for the potential pilots in the program and for Jetblue.