stansdead I don't wish you or others in your position ill but you will appreciate that it is right we look after our own first. They have worked hard too and taken real risks to be were they are. They will have come through our training system and will be a known quantity which will always make them less risk than someone from outside on both safety and operational grounds. I'm not saying that no one from outside would be suitable, far from it, but the associated risks are greater because you are taking an unknow product (peoples files don't follow them around unlike the airforce) that is unfamiliar with the operation.
Craggemore I agree which is why I qualified my statement by mentioning that current T&Cs will make it difficult to retain our people. Maybe that will change under our new CEO but I'm not holding my breath.