Cool, thanks for the tips. I am trying to figure out which way to go right now...east or west. The ship I am on sprung a leak and the outlook isn't that great. Gotta make sure the missus and the little clicks are taken care of so I have a major decision to make in the next few months. The pass is something I've been dreading given the nuttiness of the local yokels. Take a look at
http://www.eurocockpit.be/media/CockpitNewsDec05.pdf
The funniest story I heard so far was about a fella who was drafted into the army for his two year stint. Just before his tenure was up, there was a going away party which involved copius amounts of fermented liquid and some ....ergh, ....questionable female company. Now, keep in mind that this is still under the old communist system, Seems that some vulgarities prevailed against the old political system, combining various body parts and the president in one sentence. He was busted. To keep him from solitary confinment and further service to the great socialist cause, the squadron/unit doctor made a notation in his file about 'stress' and temporary nuttiness. This followed him to our Aviation Medical Examiner, who of course enquired about this but after hearing the full story, they both had a good laugh and continued on. Fast forward a decade and a few years. The secret service roots around this fellas military record, finds a report which would normally result in a dishonorable discharge and finds a notation refering to a medical file which is in possession of the AME. They subpoena our friend to deliver said records posthaste or face the consequences. Under Czech law, our friend is not allowed to see what is in his file, so he calls the AME. The AME says that to release the information to people other than fellow doctors, he would be sued for breach of privacy. Secret service not amused but by the time the legal wranglings start, our union succeeded in passing some temporary laws that will stop the insanity.
Not that this has anything to do with a TC pass but I just thought I'd share that with you because sometimes we complain about how bad things are....and they could be a lot worse.