For us, after being constantly roadblocked by HR for over a year, it was two guys leaving in rapid succession for the airlines and both telling the CEO why they were leaving. The problem was then fixed in 4 days. Sometimes you have to get the big man involved to get the problems fixed.

The pay and stability still don't match what's currently available at the 121 carriers, however. Both of those reasons are what have me looking at the airlines. I don't want to be one of those guys who's 55 years old at a department that closes due to a merger or whatever and can't find another decent job because no one will hire him because of his age. Age discrimination may be illegal, but we all know it happens.

An acquaintance recently signed an employment contract with a company. He's in his early 50's. As long as he doesn't do something stupid like bang the boss' wife, if the boss sells the airplane tomorrow, his severance pays him until he turns 65. I think there are quite a few of us who'll need similar protection if we're going to take the risk of remaining corporate.

But I also give the guy credit for his negotiating skills; something we pilots are notoriously really sh!tty at.