I'll try my best to explain the reason for the "Bridge" course.
In years past, at 1000 hours total airplane time (not many years ago it was 1200 hours) the Delta Connection Academy (then Comair Aviation Academy) flight instructor graduates would move to a Brasilia or other turbo prop. These graduates would then spend several years or more in the turbo prop before moving to the jet. Today, those same graduates are going directly to a regional jet. The leap from piston twin to regional jet is markedly greater than the leap to the turbo prop. And though our graduates have done well bridging that gap on their own, we believe they would do better with additional training. The airlines currently recruiting our students believe this as well.
As mentioned elsewhere, that training will include the areas not normally associated with the piston twin: FMS, EFIS, high altitude operations, higher speed operations and with even more advanced help in acclimating to airline training and the airline culture and lifestye.
This additional training will be required for all new students who become instructors and will happen prior to the airline interview.
Hope this helps.
Patrick Murphy
Director of Training