In my opinion GD's chicken little approach to fuel costs, international & LCC competition, bird flu, terrorism etc etc etc need be acknowledged but not feared.
Consider the Mainline Cadet program.
It's a good indicator as to a "health check" of mainline operations. Always has & always will.
Over the last 30 years, mainline has had the cadet program running whenever forecasted times where good & the cadet program comes to a holt when a downtown occurs or is forecasted.
Considering the roadshows about to occur around the country & the forecasted numbers required, I'd say that "health check" is looking good for mainline.
At present the only limitation on continued mainline recruitment is the ability to get the numbers through the training system.
MC
