Mike Gammon wrote: Snip <<<<< Those pilot 6 days are not ordinary 6 days. =A0 A top 747-400 chauffeur is earning $200k but is also working the real long hauls. Those 6 days can involve 6 back-and-forth 12 hour plus time zone changes; they also involve 10-14 hour flights. =A0 The "average" work week is nominal= ly >>>>> Amen!=20 People (the public) have to understand how this actually works, and Mike=20 Gammon has given a good indication in his post. Piloting skills are unique and perishable. These skills are built up over a=20 long period. The airmanship skills are irreplaceable at the wide body level.= =20 Granted, there is a high level of avionics automation and systems redundancy= =20 on the flightdeck; along with a lot of qualified help. Our crews are super=20 qualified (just compare the US/western carrier safety record with some other= =20 pilot groups. There are more than a few major non-USA / non-western carriers= =20 I flat out will not use.) Consider the levels of judgment and experience that are required to get you=20= &=20 me and 300 others safely onto the ground in a blowing snowstorm, or a giant=20 crosswind. I say "pay 'em what they're worth." As M. Gammon contrasts in his= =20 nice sports analogy, $200K doesn't sound out of line when the necessary=20 responsibilities and skills are duly considered. RGDS Mike SFO