If you are unfortunate enough to be in an emergecy situation, where all appears to be doomed, and you walk away from the wreck - passengers first - then you are extremely valuable. For the rest of the day and maybe the rest of the week. You can brush it off saying that this is what you are trained and paid to be able to do. Or you can try and make a stand for a cause, such as Sully.
If you are flying the line, as most of us are, you are basically flying for industry pay standards for your airline`s type of operation. Some get paid more than others, some are senior, some are junior, some are on time-limited contracts, and some pay the airline for the privilege.
If you are made redundant, you are worth about as much as the next fellow in the enemployment line. No, not really, because the next fellow may actually have some sort of education that can be put to use. Pilots don`t have that. We have blown our money on an education that is make or break. Yes, we are stupid.
