When we first read this news it seemed hard to believe, but then again, maybe not, given the legacy airlines' propensity to avoid full disclosure on what is actually happening at the helm until it is too late. This GAO revelation is more bad news in the "I struggle to make money with my airplanes" department. While it may appear easy for us air charter sideliners to toss criticism casually at these dying behemoths of the past, the fact is that these posts are an opportunity to point out the obvious.

If this proclamation is true, then we indeed have something to worry about. Many air charter captains pull retirement pay from legacy carriers, so it is no small issue for the world of Part 135 owners and drivers to not only be told that the lifting the pension burden won't fix the problem, but in fact, it is a mere pimple on the rump of airline woes. Where o where does this end? Probably in liquidation of all the assets, a big funeral, and certainly no party.