Did anyone happen to see the CBS evening news? One of our US Airways express boys whinning about the change of retirement age for pilots. Warren Booth complained that he would have to wait longer before getting promoted if the age limit was raised. In my opinion if the guy up front with tremendous amount of experience wants to fly a few extra years until he can claim social security and medicare let he or she do so.
Retirement age for pilots
- Thread starter tahitigirl
- Start date
2BorNot2B
Senior
- Jul 6, 2005
- 258
- 7
Sadly, what you describe is the motivation behind all this! But after 15+ yrs in the "Right Seat" (yes, that's how long it took to upgrade in my days), and watching Senior Pilots become "Seniors", I believe the FAA is right on this ruling. This is only my opinion however, and I am sure there are a great many that will disagree.
Another big factor is the loss of Pensions ... being stuck without a job or a pension at age 60 is a total disaster!
2B
ChrisUS
Senior
- Aug 20, 2005
- 449
- 72
If you have hit that point in your life and not planned in advance and saved enough, shame on you!
N924PS
Veteran
- May 9, 2004
- 2,037
- 1,529
If you have hit that point in your life and not planned in advance and saved enough, shame on you!
ChrisUS,
Even if you've got the same wife you started with, drive an old car, live modestly and saved diligently, you can't be prepared for the loss of over $1.4 Million that you counted on getting for more than 20 or 30 years.
And at USAirways, 57% of the pilots voted away Retiree Medical Coverage.
Bankruptcy changed the game and the playing field. Changing the retirement age to 65 will help for those that wish to continue, but the pension is not recoverable.
Even after profit sharing I'm still short about $1,395,000.
How's your financial planning going? Will you be better off than your Senior peers?
Well, I think that it only benefits the folks that are in there late 50's!!! Funny how most of you folks benefited from the age 60 rule your whole career, then your gonna want to get it extended!!! Warren Booth has a right to complain!!!
You knew getting into this career that age 60 was gonna be the cut off!!! Jeez!!!
Two sides to every coin!!!
2BorNot2B
Senior
- Jul 6, 2005
- 258
- 7
....another very good point! When I started with Mohawk Airlines the ALPA Pilots were pushing for full Retirement at age 55!!!
Times change .. economic pressures change! Unfortunately we have not been able to stop the "aging process", and that is the critical factor here! The seniority issue should not be a point of contention, IMHO!
2B
--------------------------------------------------------
I guess we should have known the pensions would be removed as well...
What we should have done is decline the defined benefit plan and gotten the equivalent in sallary, saved it on our own, then we wouldnt havea gripe....
At least now we can quite when we want to, mandatory at 65...save enough and qiute!!
I cant wait to hang it up in europe...Oh you want your plane back? drop some cash in my account or come get your plane...Payback is hell!!
phasersonstun2
Veteran
- May 1, 2003
- 560
- 4
If we fly past 60, we should be able to deduct the following items:
Hearing aid (both ears)
Tri-focal lenses (100% deduction)
Magnifying glass
Micro tape recorder (for remembering where you put stuff like your car.)
Medical kit with sundries like dentucreme, prep H, viagra, etc.
Shoes with GPS tracking in case you get lost in Vienna.
Hearing aid (both ears)
Tri-focal lenses (100% deduction)
Magnifying glass
Micro tape recorder (for remembering where you put stuff like your car.)
Medical kit with sundries like dentucreme, prep H, viagra, etc.
Shoes with GPS tracking in case you get lost in Vienna.
2BorNot2B
Senior
- Jul 6, 2005
- 258
- 7
---------------------------------------------------------
Hey I already forget where I parked my car...where do I get one of those micro recorders?
Yes many knew the rules. But they also knew the rules constitute age discrimination under current laws that were not in effect when the rule (which was promulgated strictly for economic reasons and not safety reasons in 1959) was finalized. So many took the job and have worked for years to right a wrong.
Now that we have pilots employed by foreign carriers allowed to fly to the USA to age 65 but deny our own pilots, it was only a matter of nano seconds before the rule changed. So, let's work together to make it an effective rule, because change will happen.
HRDiva
While the money won't be as good, 60+ year old pilots can go onto other flying jobs. Corporate. Flight instruction. Charter (the NetJets of the world don't seem to be getting smaller). Barnstorming. Bannertowing. I know numerous big metal airline pilots who love zipping around the patch in a Piper cub or Citabria.
N924PS
Veteran
- May 9, 2004
- 2,037
- 1,529
So given the same argument, if it's safe for an over 60 pilot to operate in any of the pilot jobs you describe, why isn't it acceptable to continue as an airline pilot?
Getting those other flying jobs is not as easy as you might think either. I still love doing wheel landings in the grass in a J-3 or Citabria but I'd rather keep my Airbus day job for another 5 years after 60. As long as I am physically and mentally capable of performing my duties.
Similar threads
