We did this subject to death a few months ago. My take on it has not changed, so for those who didn't see the last thread I'll repeat it here.
'Pilot' used to be owned and published by James Gilbert, a TAP (Total Aviation Person) who chose his editorial team and his contributers (of which I was a very occasional one) and fashioned the mag according to his own lights. He had no-one except his readership telling him what to do.
'Pilot is now owned by a large publishing company (by definition, not a TAP) and edited by one of that company's employees. I would be very surprised if the current editor has the total freedom to fashion the mag according to his own lights.
So the chances are that 'Pilot' will never again be the magazine it was, no matter how professional the editorial team. Perhaps the days of the indepdant owner/publisher have gone for good. If so, that is our loss.
But I still think it is marginally ahead of the rest, but slowly losing to 'Flyer' (especially now they have John Farley on board).
SSD