Hey Rockhound, you are joking aren’t you, when you write “Still, I'm hoping that there is still an element of esprit de corps among you SQ pilots (I'm sure there was much more of it in the past) and a certain pride in flying for an airline of high repute”?
I actually don’t know of any SQ ex-pat pilots who don’t share a common derision of the airline and a slight sense of shame that we’ve all been stupid enough to get ourselves sucked into and committed to what on the outside looks like a super efficient, professional outfit but which insiders occasionally liken to a glorified whelk stall.
We don’t actually do esprit de corps in SQ. We just grit our teeth, loath the b*st**ds who set policy and pay rates and look forward to the day we can leave.
Meanwhile, despite the suggestions of the dreamers and outside commentators, we cannot just up-sticks and leave – we are committed to bonds, bank-guarantees, rental contracts, car hire purchase, money owed by SQ (which you can kiss goodbye to if you leave before time) and childrens’ education – you know, the kind of things that middle-class, mature professionals take seriously and which vulnerability is exploited in spades by all from Minister Mentor downwards, who get away with it because this particular 1963 Monopoly game called the Republic of Singapore had all the Chance, Community Chest and Property Deeds dealt to Lee Kuan Yew from day one and all continue to be held by him to this day!