Well put Luke, couldn't agree more.
CSN you clearly have no idea what you're talking about.
but in an industry where we are always told an airline might decide on Friday that it needs 10 pilots on Monday I cannot see how a 2 year plan fits in
You sound as though you are criticising Highland for a bit of forward planning. Everyone moans that the industry isn't proactive enough in it's forward planning. Now that one is you are criticising it.
I know from experince in large companies it does not take 2 years to do this, you offer a good working environment and adequate rewards and people soon fit in to the corporate ideals. If you offer this environment people tend to want to stay, rather than 'punishing them' to the tune of thousands of pounds for daring to leave.
Highland do offer excellent Ts & Cs and everyone there is exceptionally happy. Your so called experience obviously doesn't stretch to airlines where people do move on in order to further their careers on bigger stuff. There are a few notable and honourable exceptions who enjoy the regional TP lifestyle too much to leave. But then I get the impression you would moan if no one moved on from a TP outfit thus creating fluidity in the job market.