I think that Floater Northwest had a point. Maybe the Home Office ought to be setting a framework or baseline for Police/HEMS Pilot salaries across the country with enough flexibility for Police Forces to 'add to the basic package' for geographical differences. Lets face it Forces are paying contractors up to £100,000 per pilot per year! A lot of us would consider half of that a bloody good pay rise!! National pay structure for Direct Employ and National Register of Freelancers that forces can select from should they end up needing to cover shifts? A unit paying the above rate for 4 pilots on a 24hrs duty basis could afford to go direct employ (at a decent wage offer) with an additional pilot allowing a built in buffer for leave, short term sickness etc and still come out of it with change in their pockets. It would also leave the Chief Pilot time to do his job and be a chief amongst his indians.