"That's true. Like I said in the cargo forum - the last year or so I've been more interested in flying cargo because of that. I've been watching the cargo deck at my local airport and it seems a lot more appealing with less hustle and bustle. And I think an added bonus - people may stop flying, but people are always going to mail things..."

CR the truth is there is good and bad about both jobs. I have flown both and when you add all the pros and cons together, for me cargo is a better overall way to go. One of the main reasons is your last statement. A buddy of mine that I helped get hired at FDX behind me left here for Delta. He was above the whole "cargo" flying even though that is what he did in the Air Force. He left me a viocemail about leaving for Delta and I haven't heard from him since. Had he stayed here he would be an MD-11 Capt now instead of an MD-80 F/O in ATL. He may still be happy with his decision, I don't know. No one has a crystal ball here so the best advice I can give is keep doing your research, try to talk to pilots that have flown both pax and cargo, and work hard enough to be able to make that decision when the time comes. What is riding behind you shouldn't be a big factor in your decision IMO. I had an AA F/O tell me one time that cargo pilots shouldn't make as much as Pax pilots because we have less responsibility. This dufus actually thought that when I was shooting a Cat III down to mins, bringing in a jet on one engine, or escaping a severe windshear that I wouldn't do the best job that I could because it was only boxes behind me and not people. I explained to him that it was my arse I was worried about saving, not anyone or anything behind me and I had never met a pilot that flew a plane differently when the chips were down because of what they were hauling. Anyway, he looked at me and said.."I never thought of it that way". He then proceeded to screw up a 15 knot Xwind landing so bad that the Capt had to take it in the flare. Anyway, I digress. Keep asking the right questions, keep working hard and above all....fly safe. I look forward to buying you a beer one day in Someplace Else!