Hi Scroggs,
You seem to be inferring in your comments about BAs' take-over of BCAL and Dan-air that it was all a bad thing.
As an ex-BCAL pilot it was the best thing to happen to most of us. Apart from the first few months of aggro, it soon became very clear that the grass is so much greener in BA. We ended up with the most secure job in UK aviation, a reasonable salary, the best working conditions, a good pension and, best of all, no stress worrying about whether we were going to be paid every month.
Just for the security of lifestyle I believe that most Virgin pilots would grab the opportunity of a BA life.
I can only hope that BMI gets taken over by BA. It is the best option. If BMI went to the wall BA would probably get permission to 'save'it and give them a ready-made pool of quality pilots...just what it is looking for...and got from BCAL and Dan-air...for next to nothing.
After years in independent aviation, I can now sit back in my First Class seat and ponder how it might have been!
Good luck