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Hoot Gibson retires - comments on age 60

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The U.S. is one of four countries that disagrees with the organization's change. The others are France, Pakistan and Colombia.
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That alone should be reason enough to change. Why would we be in agreement with those countries?
 
I guess since the rest of the world is changing we should as well. There goes gallons, pounds, and miles, since 90% of the world uses the metric system.

ALPA members voted on a survey a couple of years ago on changing the age 60 rule, and the results were very clear, almost 7 out of 10 ALPA pilots don't want to change the rule. ALPA represents what? 40-50K pilots. The majority has spoken, and the results are in, we don't want to change the rule. Please, let's don't pull another GORE-BUSH stunt.
 
"I'm not ready," he said.
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Not for nothin', but Hoot should have "gotten his mind right" and been mentally ready for retirement since age 58. If the FAA changed the rules before he went, great, keep truckin', but being mentally and psychologically prepared is 80% of the battle, at least thats what alot of now-retired guy have told me.

He is retired from NASA as a multi-mission Shuttle pilot, now retired from SWA, as a Captain. He can't really complain, life has been good to him.

Now go live it.
 
satpak77 said:
Not for nothin', but Hoot should have "gotten his mind right" and been mentally ready for retirement since age 58. If the FAA changed the rules before he went, great, keep truckin', but being mentally and psychologically prepared is 80% of the battle, at least thats what alot of now-retired guy have told me.

He is retired from NASA as a multi-mission Shuttle pilot, now retired from SWA, as a Captain. He can't really complain, life has been good to him.

Now go live it.
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This is the same guy that was turned down by United. I guess he wasnt qualified, you know, competing against 300 hour interns and all.

He (we all) benifited from the guys turning 60 and moving on. We all know this when we get the job and start planning when we might upgrade. Now he doesnt want the next guy to upgrade.

He can always come apply to NetJets and fly till he "is ready" to retire, like many others have done. Or if its money he is after, he can become a "speaker". He can probably pull in a big amount.
 
I am interested in knowing and finding the most information about the "large benefit packages" that airline pilots enjoy when retiring at age 60.....

Inquiring minds want to know......

A350
 
jetjockey#1 said:
I guess since the rest of the world is changing we should as well. There goes gallons, pounds, and miles, since 90% of the world uses the metric system.
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So your argument for keeping the "age 60" rule, is if it goes away we will have to use the metric system? Uhhh, you might want rethink that argument.
 
wonder what Hoot would have thought when he walked out of NASA's front door, now retired, and called (insert any airline) H.R. section and they said, "no, we won't be hiring for 3 years. Age 65 just got passed, and we have lots of bodies for now"

wonder that his stance on age 60 would have been then?

funny how that works ain't it
 
I am sure the Tigers would have liked to add a few innings to last night's game even though they new it would only last 9 innings when they started.
 
nice career, Hoot. you were a great astronaut and airline pilot. i think your resume will allow for any flying position that you might be interested in outside of the airlines.

enjoy your retirement.
 
This comment has nothing to do with age 60...

I had the pleasure of flying a four day trip with Hoot. For a guy with those kind of bragging rights, he actually was a humble and genuine great guy. Not an ounce of pretentiousness. You would never know you were flying with an aviation legend. I consider flying with him one of the highlights of my time at Southwest so far.
 
Remington said:
I am sure the Tigers would have liked to add a few innings to last night's game even though they new it would only last 9 innings when they started.
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You just had to go there didn't you Remington:bawling:

On another note, If I had flown phantoms over Vietnam, been in one of the first F-14 squadrons, been a Topgun graduate, flown into space multiple times, and have been a Captain at a great airline, I just might want a little time off. But that's just me.

Congratulations Hoot. You've earned it!
 
Hoot, congrats from all of us. Thank your for your military service and your service with NASA. Your career serves as a textbook role-model for many of us. Top Gun trophies, Shuttle commander, SWA Captain. Etc etc

With that said, you are 60, and its time to retire.
 
Didn't they make a movie with Clint Eastwood and 60 something year old astronauts...go do that forget about the cattle
 
Wow. Lots of people here jumping on Hoot for wanting to stay on the line.

I have been to several retirement parties and at every single one of them the guy was saying "I'm not ready to quit....". We all know that when 60 comes its time for the pasture. However when its YOUR turn to retire and you climb out of that cockpit for the last time, you might be uttering those very same words....
 
What nerve, wanting to keep his job past sixty just because he enjoys it and brings a ton of experience to it. Ahh, the rapacity of some people.
 
Didn't he fly for TWA?

I heard a story about him flying a 727-100 where he pulled some circuit breakers to extend the LEDs so that the plane would fly faster. I am sure others have heard the story too. I am pretty sure I heard he was the captain.
 
SlapShot said:
Didn't he fly for TWA?

I heard a story about him flying a 727-100 where he pulled some circuit breakers to extend the LEDs so that the plane would fly faster. I am sure others have heard the story too. I am pretty sure I heard he was the captain.
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Wrong person!!:rolleyes:
 
It was the trailing flaps that were extended not the slats. It too was a Hoot Gibson not of this thread. The trailers were extended to increase performance at the altitude they were flying. Over Michigan a long time ago...

Birdman
BTV
 
embpic1 said:
Wow. Lots of people here jumping on Hoot for wanting to stay on the line.

I have been to several retirement parties and at every single one of them the guy was saying "I'm not ready to quit....". We all know that when 60 comes its time for the pasture. However when its YOUR turn to retire and you climb out of that cockpit for the last time, you might be uttering those very same words....
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I was on my dads last flight. He was not excited about retiring, but was happy to move on to the next "chapter" of his life. He retired from the military and UAL. Now in retirement, he is still flying 73s, 75s, and 76s, as a Boeing Contract Pilot. Work load is light, when he wants to fly. He also flies with the Air Force out of Tinker Air Force base on the 737s ( as a contract instructor). He lives next door to an astronaut (guy that lived in space for 6 months), and flies out of his backyard hangar. There is plenty of life left in these 60+ year olds, but dont forget why they upgraded.....due to the other old guys.

Like my dad, Hoot had a good ride. Turn the page and start a new chapter.
 

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