Just to clarify, Lord Spandex Masher (fine chap as I am sure he is) and myself are categorically NOT the same person!
Regarding the 'going rate', when 3500 highly qualified people apply for 200 jobs, do you think that rate is going to be higher or lower than if there were only 200 pilots available and several companies were competing for their services? The 'going rate' is what a company has to pay in order for people to accept, not what they would like or think they are worth. I would like to be paid £200k+ a year and be given a posh car to go with it, but, as that is somewhat more than the 'going rate', I may have to adjust my plans accordingly.