Nightfire , how things have changed . I could name you 20-30 ex Wilsonites , bush pilots , whatever , who rose through the ranks of many a 'serious' airline such as BA , Cathay , Singapore, Virgin etc , even one who is now THE bwana makubwa of Austrian Airlines .
However , you may be right in that most 'serious' airlines now prefer to adopt , give birth to , mold some automaton/yesman/politically correct twerp ( who sometimes has precious little natural flying ability , something rarely lacking in a bushpilot ) into a company klingon spouting the company line.
You are not allowed to have an opinion or be a 'character' anymore.
Despite flying for a 'serious' airline myself , I have always been proud of , and miss very much those old days at Wilson and Malindi . Most of the klingons I have flown with cannot believe the stories and photos. Many actually regret not having had a 'life' in their career.
Long live the Aero Club.