I completely accept that we are all at the mercy of our employers' employment practices. There is, however, a common sense element to this. If you are 'forced' to start your own company or be 'self-employed', that is very frustrating as for most, if not all, airline pilots that is not an accurate reflection of your true employment status. That is one thing, but if as a result of those arrangements, the pilot concerned ends up paying virtually no tax, he/she should be very wary indeed and put some money aside for the day of reckoning. That day will surely come.