Aha! Arrowhead back on song! That is a good thoughtful post, and certainly sound advice. However there are a couple of points worth making:
1. The aircraft according to Air Castle are a signed and delivered lease agreement -first aircraft delivered to MAX in late December.
2. I have seen the contract - it is based on 17 Duty Periods per month average over the year - i.e. work 204 duty periods and you get the loot. The guarantee is for a minimum of 10.
3. I think all concerned in the smoke filled rooms are having second thoughts about head to head competition - not something that is fashionable in Macao! If Air Macau and MAX do end up in bed together then it will be a marriage made in commercial hell, but you never know, it might be good for the pilots employed by both companies.
4. NX or MAX - don't know. You pay your money and you take your choice.
5. Not sure to whom the Chief Pilot bit relates - MAX appears to have two CP! One is VPO designate when the current Head of Operations disappears into the sunset (and is ex NX), the other is CP designate. They are as far as I know the only pilots currently there so not sure about the story of guys arriving to find no job!
6. I agree that the casinos generally, not just Stanley, could not care less how the people get to Macao, as long as they get there and lose their money. That is good news for survival if not for operational discipline.
Hailer