Jim doesn't care about any of his staff. He never has and never will.
I believe he has a great business plan that could work. The problem is he has a record of of treating his staff with total disrespect and even admits that he doesn't have the time of day for pilots. (Probably because he failed his PPL).
Second problem is the Q400. It has propellers. Propellers are for boats. Period. Ask a jet jockey if he would fly a prop and I bet we all know the answer. Not even for more money. Most 737 skippers earn in excess of £90,000. How about if Big Jim offered £100,000 for a Q400? I certainly wouldn't. So £40,000 for a Prop aircraft. I would rather drive trains. Their faster and you get paid more