It was a bitter pill to swallow when I, at 15 years in the Gulf of Mexico with a certain operator of yellow helos, realized that a new-hire could come in off the street and do basically the same job as me...for a lot less money. We pilots like to think that there is big value in having a lot of flight time and longevity with a company. The companies don't always see it that way. Old guys are something of a liability. Oh, there is "some" added value, but with the proper training and guidance, new-hires can do the job perfectly adequately. Let's face it - helicopter flying is a young man's game. Staying as a Line Pilot is a losing proposition. It's a lesson I wish I had learned earlier.