Congress votes to extend pilots' retirement age to 65

[linemech]

WASHINGTON —
The Senate approved a measure late Wednesday allowing airline pilots to continue flying past age 60.





USA TODAY

 

[WCT]

WASHINGTON —
The Senate approved a measure late Wednesday allowing airline pilots to continue flying past age 60.





USA TODAY

Great news! I don't see any reason why Bush would reject this bill, seeing as he is 60!? Really good news to a lot of US Air pilots.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Here's the new law (when Bush signs it.)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110...p/~c110aehn6A::

 

[jack mama]

what will this mean for the east vs west pilots debate?

 

[nycbusdriver]

what will this mean for the east vs west pilots debate?

I believe the only thing it changes immediately is that the feeble fence on widebodies that Nicolau put in place will eliminated. But the west pilots aren't interested in the A330 and 767 flying out of PHL, so it should make no difference in the debate.

As far as moving up, attrition move-ups will be mostly gone for 5 years and the only way then to move up is if the company expands. I'm not holding my breath, BTW.

After 5 years we will be back with the normal progression of attrition by retirement.

 

[end_of_alpa]

I believe the only thing it changes immediately is that the feeble fence on widebodies that Nicolau put in place will eliminated. But the west pilots aren't interested in the A330 and 767 flying out of PHL, so it should make no difference in the debate.

As far as moving up, attrition move-ups will be mostly gone for 5 years and the only way then to move up is if the company expands. I'm not holding my breath, BTW.

After 5 years we will be back with the normal progression of attrition by retirement.

Pilots everywhere are getting their rightful reward for sticking with it. Age 65 has always been an abomination and I for one am glad it will finally come to an end. Hopefully in the future the law will be amended to where a pilot can fly until they can no longer pass an FAA first class medical.

THIS BUDS FOR YOU GUYS....WELCOME HOME AND CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[2BorNot2B]

Yeh ... Right!!! Work 'till 'ya die!! Screw Retirement!! How can 'ya make those Alimony & child support payments without a Pension??? :angry:


Happy Holidays!

2B

 

[oldiebutgoody]

I think government employees still retire at 55. Wasn't there some kind of study that said that airlines pilots, on average, only lived to age 63? I guess this will save both the gov't (PBGC) and the company tons of money, while making pilots work until they die. Yea, I'm for that! Another ALPA victory! Gotta go, my phone is ringing. It's crew scheduling. they're saying some old pilot in PHL just called in DEAD!

 

[oldiebutgoody]

By the way, isn't the age 60 retirement written into the pilot contracts? Wouldn't that require some kind of contract modification before age 65 could happen?

 

[jimntx]

I think government employees still retire at 55.

Government employees may retire at 55 if they have enough years of service, but it is not required. In private industry a lot of big companies allow retirement (with enough years) beginning at at 50 with full retirement at age 60. There is usually some penalty for retiring before age 60.

 

[2BorNot2B]

I seem to recall when I started with the "Hawk back in '67, ALPA guys were talkin' about getting the Retirement age down to 55. That was to be considered to be the ultimate Bonus .... Full (read Pension) retirement at an age that you could enjoy it! (before all the age-related problems set in) I do believe it was American Airlines that had done a study and found the average retired Pilot died at age 66, but don't quote me on that! But that was a long time ago, and life expectancy has increased greatly over the years.


2B

 

[nycbusdriver]

I think government employees still retire at 55. Wasn't there some kind of study that said that airlines pilots, on average, only lived to age 63? I guess this will save both the gov't (PBGC) and the company tons of money, while making pilots work until they die. Yea, I'm for that! Another ALPA victory! Gotta go, my phone is ringing. It's crew scheduling. they're saying some old pilot in PHL just called in DEAD!

In my experience, the pilots whose entire life and self-identity revolved around being an airline captain were dead within a few years of turning 60. Those who retired, kept themselves occupied with meaningful things to do and continued to grow intellectually continued to thrive well past 70 or 80 years old.

When you self-identify with a job that tells you you're useless when you turn a certain age, you lose the reason to live when that job dumps you in the trash like last week's fish.

"Mind over matter" is more than just a cliche.

 

[oldiebutgoody]

In my experience, the pilots whose entire life and self-identity revolved around being an airline captain were dead within a few years of turning 60. Those who retired, kept themselves occupied with meaningful things to do and continued to grow intellectually continued to thrive well past 70 or 80 years old.

When you self-identify with a job that tells you you're useless when you turn a certain age, you lose the reason to live when that job dumps you in the trash like last week's fish.

"Mind over matter" is more than just a cliche.

I could see that being the case. 60 is the new 40, or so they say. I still don't know who "they" is, however!

 

[Tiger 1050]

Great news! I don't see any reason why Bush would reject this bill, seeing as he is 60!? Really good news to a lot of US Air pilots.

I believe this is just one part of a bill that includes items such as the ATC raise and other expenditures that "W" has vowed to veto. At least that is the last I heard...

 

[nycbusdriver]

I believe this is just one part of a bill that includes items such as the ATC raise and other expenditures that "W" has vowed to veto. At least that is the last I heard...

I think this bill went through both houses of Congress without any attachments. It stood alone and was voted 390 to 0 in the House, and on a unanimous voice vote in the Senate with no objections raised. It is supposedly already on Bush's desk this morning. In fact, it may already be law.