Amos2,
Actually, The 105K is absolute barebones pay, not at all inclusive of accommodation allowance, any slip port/daily allowances, free medical/dental or removals. There is NEVER ANY threat of paying for one's own conversion training (although I admit a ROSO (Return of Service Obligation) on certain conversions). The cost of fuel barely rates a mention (although the greenie (NOT the accountant) in me says it probably should). And then there's extra overseas operational deployment pay (which, in addition to regular salary during the deployment, is tax free).
The usefulness that a prospective <insert legacy carrier> Second Officer feels before leaving his/her Defence job is tenfold more than he/she is likely to feel for years (possibly decades) in their airline job.
So - no - 105k may not seem like a Captain's salary but then again, leaving Defence and taking something between a 10 and 20 year demotion isn't very attractive either. Believe me.
VI
Last edited by Victor India; 8th Jun 2006 at 12:11.