Wally,
I fully understand your thinking, however the fact remains that the pilots will be working for one UK based employer (Brookfield). The Irish Limited company fiasco is a dishonest and false employment status, purely intended to buck the system, at the end of the day it is still one individual working for one UK employer. Also, there is a two way termination notice period in the contract, which is not allowed if one is to be IR35 compliant. Heading off to the Irish tax system to avoid IR35 is tax evasion and if the majority of UK residents/employees did that our country would go bankrupt, that is why such rules exist, to protect our country.
My friend's father has made these issues very clear to us and this investigation is escalating rapidly. I have no idea when they will make their move to the offices of Brookfield, but you can be sure that after they do things will change dramatically. Trouble is we could all be out of work.
As an aside, have you seen the new increased Irish taxes, OUCH!
Cadet