To John Eacott-you are no doubt more in touch with the salaries than I am. I've been out of the country for a couple of years. Before leaving Aust I was one of those SAR specialists you mentioned: multi-engine, single pilot IFR, but not earning anywhere near 100k, and I don't think any of the other EMS/rescue pilots were either. The military pilots were earning in the low 70's at that time but I believe they've had some big pay increases to take them up to around 100k. Any military, EMS/rescue, offshore pilots care to comment? I'm genuinely interested and sincerely hope the pay situation has improved since I left. If it hasn't all us Aussies in Macau and Hong Kong will never come home, especially the way the Aussie dollar is going.