It is not that they payed to much. It is that these programs flood the market with pilots and put more downward pressure on our wages than a place like GJ could ever do. Think about it. These pilots are only qualified to do one thing and that is to be a RJ fo. Then can't fly 135, most do not have their instructor tickets and the have no practical experience. But yet they have bought an INTERVIEW with their money that is going to provide the regionals with more than enough pilots. To many pilots, much lower pay. It is simple supply and demand. Ever wondered why corporate fo's make 40-50k a year on average for first year pay? It is because the insurance companies makes them have a lot more experience and total time. Less qualified pilots equals less supply, more demand and higher pay. It is not about what they paid to get ratings, it is about economics. As a regional airline CEO, what costs you more, a first year F.O. and third year Captain or a five year F.O. and ten year Captain? Which would airline management rather pay? They both produce the exact same amount of revenue to the airline. Why pay for a 115K dollar a year crew when you can have a 70K a year crew? If you work for a regional, they do not want you there more than 5-7 years, tops. Why do you think regionals support these direct path progams, to be nice to new pilots? No, they do it to keep the pilot supply up and wages down. Becoming a pilot now has almost become akin to becoming a bartender. Anybody can do it, and that ain't a good thing for career pilots. You will never get a "career" contract with a regional. If they did that, how can they get you to leave at the 5 year mark? It is a a great game plan, and nobody on this side sees it. Managements goal is to make you so miserable that by your 5th year you are thinking of leaving and by your 7th, your gone. How you ask? Crappy pay, crappy contracts or stalled negotiations (I am former ASA, so I know), crappy QOL and crappy moral. They are not mismanaging, they are playing the regional airline economic handbook, and we are playing right along.