MSNBC: A CAL captain just died in flight. Plane making an emergency landing

[Kugelblitz]

Yeah...but I have a choice of whether I will work for free or not...

So do the regional whor...eerrr pilots...

Wannabe but couldn't, eh?

It is terribly apparent.

 

[SuperFLUF]

>>>>I'm wondering where all the super-pro-65 zealots are?? <<<

Plenty of < age 60 pilots have died. Plenty of < age 60 pilots have medicaled out. Things happen to people of all ages. Matter of fact the most dangerous time seems to be around age 50 to 55. Once a guy makes it past that point, statistics show he's going to be good past age 65. Don't take one incodent and use it as a statistical certainity or proof. I have heard of plenty of guys who had a medical problem and a couple of have died who < age 60.

We don't have much data for airline pilots over 60. The type of flying that most senior guys do (long-haul, multiple time zones, circadial rythm chaos) isn't good for anyone and is cumulative. The "statistics" that show someone is good past 65 if they make it past 55 are not necessarily applicable to our specific environment.

Even if we do start to see a dispoportionate amount of heath issues and in-flight incapacitation of over 60 pilots, the retirement age won't move back. They will just increase the medical standards and crack down on the "easy" A.M.E.s.

 

[Flopgut]

>>>>I'm wondering where all the super-pro-65 zealots are?? <<<

Plenty of < age 60 pilots have died. Plenty of < age 60 pilots have medicaled out. Things happen to people of all ages. Matter of fact the most dangerous time seems to be around age 50 to 55. Once a guy makes it past that point, statistics show he's going to be good past age 65. Don't take one incodent and use it as a statistical certainity or proof. I have heard of plenty of guys who had a medical problem and a couple of have died who < age 60.

Four heart attacks at CAL in 3.5 years!! Please, I'm NOT talking about ONE instance!!

CAL has been the leader in bad work rules since 1983. As I stated earlier, this guy did NOT die of natural causes, he died of contractural causes. This is going to continue to happen at CAL. We are in uncharted territory with regard to pilot mortality and what needs to happen is the pro 65ers need to unload their emotional investment in being scab-like seniority swines and start to think of the greater good. We have a lot of guys at CAL with a lot of retirement dollars that need to go ahead and leave. Staying at this until you flame out at the controls is going to saddle us with medical standards no one will be happy with. OR, if they are going to stay, be the senior, aged-sage-leader-type who can speak out against the poor work rules killing our fellow pilots and help every pilot.

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

Being that the rule changed in Dec 07 the oldest are approaching 62. We have no statistics yet. If you are talking about civilians you are talking apples and asparagus. They do not have the circadian disruptions over a lifetime we do. Our domestic schedules are bad enough(6am dept. day 1, 14hr duty day, 3pm the next with a 7-8 hr duty day followed up with a 8-9 hour layover then another 14hr day. Intl. is a whole different animal. Going thru whale training a few years ago the IP made a comment that stuck with mefatigue is the most challanging part of this airplane) coming from domestic I thought he was another whining WB guy. Boy was I wrong. Point is you cannot compare us to the general population.

>>>>I'm wondering where all the super-pro-65 zealots are?? <<<

Plenty of < age 60 pilots have died. Plenty of < age 60 pilots have medicaled out. Things happen to people of all ages. Matter of fact the most dangerous time seems to be around age 50 to 55. Once a guy makes it past that point, statistics show he's going to be good past age 65. Don't take one incodent and use it as a statistical certainity or proof. I have heard of plenty of guys who had a medical problem and a couple of have died who < age 60.

 

[okcplt]

Wannabe but couldn't, eh?

It is terribly apparent.

Lemmee guess... outta all your aircraft flown listed...you're flying the CL65 now right???

 

[imacdog]

Being that the rule changed in Dec 07 the oldest are approaching 62. We have no statistics yet. If you are talking about civilians you are talking apples and asparagus. They do not have the circadian disruptions over a lifetime we do. Our domestic schedules are bad enough(6am dept. day 1, 14hr duty day, 3pm the next with a 7-8 hr duty day followed up with a 8-9 hour layover then another 14hr day. Intl. is a whole different animal. Going thru whale training a few years ago the IP made a comment that stuck with mefatigue is the most challanging part of this airplane) coming from domestic I thought he was another whining WB guy. Boy was I wrong. Point is you cannot compare us to the general population.

Corporate guys have been flying ultra-long haul for some time now with no age restrictions.

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

I am sure they have. But I also bet that they have much longer time to rest at the destination then their airline peers. (not always the case I'm sure but on average) Also, I would bet that over a career that the airline pilot flys more days, legs, hours etc than all but a few corporate/frac pilots.

Corporate guys have been flying ultra-long haul for some time now with no age restrictions.

 

[Flopgut]

Corporate guys have been flying ultra-long haul for some time now with no age restrictions.

Sorry, but that is meaningless and inconsequential. Look no further than Trade-A-Plane at the hours and cycles on corporate airplanes. The records are part of the values and those airplanes don't fly much. Especially the ultra-long haul types.

 

[Captain X]

Four heart attacks at CAL in 3.5 years!!

2nd in 2 weeks. CAL recently lost an over-60 off-line Instructor as well.

 

[Flopgut]

2nd in 2 weeks. CAL recently lost an over-60 off-line Instructor as well.

Seriously?! On duty? Initials please, if you don't mind?

Former line pilot?

 

[flyboycpa]

Seriously?! On duty? Initials please, if you don't mind?

Flop...go to the Flight Operations website, then the eBulletin board, the Company posted the instructor's name. You should find him there. Take care,

fb

 

[Flopgut]

Flop...go to the Flight Operations website, then the eBulletin board, the Company posted the instructor's name. You should find him there. Take care,

fb

K. Thanks.

 

[filejw]

The europeans have been doing this for a bit longer than us and have had no deaths as of yet. What I think you are going to see is more stringent medical standards for all of us and that would be a good thing. The age 65 thing is going to go back.

 

[Flopgut]

The europeans have been doing this for a bit longer than us and have had no deaths as of yet. What I think you are going to see is more stringent medical standards for all of us and that would be a good thing. The age 65 thing is going to go back.

Yes, well, in Europe they also do things like ban together in extraordinary circumstances. Like when it becomes imperative to get pitot tubes fixed.

Get your head out of your butt. Yes, medical will probably change. But there should be an equal effort at improving work rules.

 

[av8trinabarrel]

The europeans have been doing this for a bit longer than us and have had no deaths as of yet. What I think you are going to see is more stringent medical standards for all of us and that would be a good thing. The age 65 thing is going to go back.

How can you compare americans errrr fat people to europeans. Europeans drink more than your standard fish and smoke more than a finely tuned diesel truck. Ohh wait...nevermind!

Here's too more stringent medical standards and a much needed memory comprehension test for EVERYONE. Damn..I just screwed myselfimp: