As always, thanks for the question. I'll offer up my personal thoughts on this. In the past we've enjoyed a practical policy of getting the member-elected TalkBoard involved in decisions of forum structure -- new ones to be considered, older ones needing reviewed, so would also suggest you contact you local member of the TalkBoard and ask about their consideration of this as well.

I likely would not be in much favor for a forum like this. I think FlyerTalk has done best when defining the narrow niche it has for first of all being the hub of conversations and information dedicated to the topics of miles and points and as a sub-set of that, the greater topic of travel. I view pilots as far more technical of a forum topic and certainly one can easily suggest is is travel-related, I think there are far greater resources and forums for pilots than what FlyerTalk could ever be. We can be many things, but I think it might be better to either form a relationship with an external forum that is as good about the topic for pilots as we are for miles and points and let them also form a relationship with us.

We are lucky to have several members who are truly best-of-class as members and as pilots, but I just don't see that FlyerTalk would ever become known as a hangout for pilots -- at least one worthy or being best-in-class as I think FlyerTalk can be for the topics of miles and points. In the past I always faced questions from some of the readers of InsideFlyer to expand the magazine to more than just about miles and points and while tempted, always drew the line to what i thought we could be better than others. When you look at the failure of print magazines like OAG Frequent Flyer in years gone by, I think I made a good decision to stay singularly focused and I think that same is true for FlyerTalk.

So, while ideas and suggestions like this are always good for us to consider and define what FlyerTalk is and can be, I vote for us getting better at what we already are. And to our pilots, my hat is off to you, you're great members of FlyerTalk but I just know that there are better existing Web sites out there you already visit that are likely better resources for conversations on that topic.

Again, this is my personal thought but do encourage you to contact your local TalkBoard for their consideration.

And thanks again for the question.

Randy