To answer the question of hiring, we will hire some PFE's in the next few months. We are trying to get out of the SO gig. The cost of retraining a pilot after a year to FO is not effective money management. We will probably start hiring FO's in the summer.

The published pay scale is important. This is an issue that the management is working on getting fixed. We have a very good relationship with our management team right now and we are willing to work these issues out in a manor that benefits everyone.

We definitely have our issues but if you look at the other carriers in our category:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...rgo/atlas.html
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...evergreen.html
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...focus_air.html
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...litta_air.html
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...rgo/polar.html
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...thern_air.html
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airli...radewinds.html

There is just no way you can say our first year pay is dragging down the wage. We are better then some fifth and sixth years pay. Hopefully we will trend more toward the top of the scale. Only time and hard work will tell.