Regardless of the circumstance, pilots and anyone else losing their jobs is bad news - a situation I hope does not affect too many more in this economic cycle(but unfortunately it looks as if it will).
However, despite the coming of a Federal election the assistance given to one set of airline employees should be consistent with that given to those who suffered unexpected unemployment at some earlier point.
Whether it was Compass One or Two, or Impulse, or the numerous small outfits that have gone under during these last few years!
In reality the pilots and others who were enjoying the bigger salaries should be in a much better financial circumstance to weather the shock of unemployment. Thus Ansett pilots should be less stressed than a Regional or GA pilot who has lost his income.
If not, then perhaps it is a timely and sobering reminder to us all to reorder our fiscal arrangements and spending in preparation for that unwanted 'rainy day'!
And along the way we should be mindful of the hundreds of Wannabees that are broke and still striving to get a respectable paid flying job of any description.