I think it's funny that some of the same people that say this "put your kids through college" are usually the same ones that give sh** to an Embry riddle grad for having his "rich mommy and daddy" pay for all their school.
How about teaching your kids to work hard for their sh*t and earn some scholarships? Especially if they want to be a doctor or follow in their daddy's retarded a$$ foot steps!
I beg your pardon?
I would not pay for one of my kids to go to ERAU because I don't think it is worthwhile. You get a degree from a university which has essentially no standing outside of aviation. I would do what I can to help my kids through a "regular" university (preferably in a field of study with broad application) - personally I value education and if I could help them come out without a huge debt I think that would be a plus. Sorry if that offends you.
And for the record (not that it's any of your damn business), I am encouraging them to work hard and get good grades so they can get scholarships. They'll need them since with the continued erosion of this industry I most likely WON'T be able to help them as much as I'd like to.
Does ERAU produce a decent pilot? Yes. Better than anywhere else? No, based on what I've seen they are within the bell curve of many other schools. I take issue with people putting too much stock in the suposed cachet of the name, when in fact all they are doing is paying a premium price for an average product.
I basically agree with what I think AC is saying - except I think you would be MUCH better served getting a business degree from any of a number of state or liberal arts schools (and saving money in the process) and getting your ratings on the side.
Now back to the actual topic of the thread - I take issue with ever more flying moving from the mainlines to the regionals. I stand by my statement of around 20 years ago that the key to scope was to bring everything possible to the mainline, not the other way around. As far as I'm concerned, 19 seaters with Brand X painted on the side or codesharing should be brought onto the mainline. As was previously pointed out, doing so ultimately creates more jobs, with better work rules and pay. This drives the compensation level for the entire industry higher, so maybe I can make enough to not have to eat cat food when I retire.