We have our bad apples, but I haven't flown with a soul yet that isn't on the side of the YX pilots in all of this. I commuted on YX for some time, and had an application in before the music stopped in 2007. Some of the most professional crews I've had the pleasure of meeting. This is not how I wanted to be flying an airplane in Midwest paint. Not even close.

The fact is the powers that be wouldn't have had a viable brand to purchase without the hard work of all the Midwest employees over the last 25 years. I know many of us at Republic know this, and to those that don't, they need to learn. (If you run into someone like that, we should take the time to educate them.) And to treat any of the YX employee groups with anything less than our best efforts would be a slap to the face of the industry and the profession.

There is not much that any RAH pilot could say to make this situation any better, but there is a lot we can do. We can't point the finger to blame if this goes south, our future is in our hands and nobody elses.

Get involved, and get educated.

So, in closing, an olive branch to the YX crews, you created a damn fine airline, and I hope you all return to carry on the legacy.