Age 60 informal poll

[Klako]

Spare us the finger pointing ... the greediest generation ever is making a full court press to make sure that their career is longer and more profitable that any ever before - at the expence of the junior pilots.

Get off of your high horse and offer ALPA a compromise (eg over 60 = FO). In the mean time don't even try to pretend to be motivated by anything other than the greed you are so readily to see in others.

So it is OK to force an experienced pilot into poverty (No pension, no medical plan and only a small 401K), just so a younger pilot can move up the seniority list a bit faster.


Why is it that some do not understand what real greed is?

 

[Rik717pilot]

Klako,

You must have been screwed by AA and the APA too... or at least a close relative of the SNB's. We oldsters need to get this thing through congress so we can retire and afford a six pack of beer with our geritol once a week.

 

[Andy]

Klako, your video of Blakely indicates that she is bowing to political pressures to use the word neutral. The Federal Air Surgeon's office is opposed to the change based on decreased safety.
Like it or not, a 61 year old pilot is more at risk than a 51 year old pilot. The previous FAS stated that the J curve occurs at age 55 and rises significantly past 55.

All of this moot anyway; HR 65 has been bottled up in subcommittee since the day after it was introduced in Jan 05. It's good as dead; here's a link:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00065:
(make sure that the colon on the end is added)
This puppy ain't gonna be departing subcommittee during the 109th congress; it's gonna die in committee. If you need an education on the legislative process, use this link:
http://www.school-house-rock.com/Bill.html

You're wasting your energy when you could be working on other job skills that you can use once you turn 60.

 

[Andy]

So it is OK to force an experienced pilot into poverty (No pension, no medical plan and only a small 401K), just so a younger pilot can move up the seniority list a bit faster.


Why is it that some do not understand what real greed is?

IT'S ABOUT SAFETY, OLD MAN.

 

[Klako]

Klako,

You must have been screwed by AA and the APA too... or at least a close relative of the SNB's. We oldsters need to get this thing through congress so we can retire and afford a six pack of beer with our geritol once a week.

The TWA guys really did get the shaft from AMR. Pan Am and TWA were the last of the truly world class airlines, sad to see them go. No, I only flew in the Army and with regional airlines. My company does not have a defined benefit plan, only our individual 401K. I saved enough for my three daughters to finish college, I have no bills, managed to save some and I will have my house paid for. It is the medical insurance premiums that will kill me.

I have sent out at least 100 job applications without success. I can tell you that nobody wants to hire a 60 year old pilot and ex soldier. If I could fly for just another two years, I would be OK, but if the age 60 rule does not pass by 11 Dec 2006, I am toast!

 

[Saabslime]

If I could fly for just another two years, I would be OK, but if the age 60 rule does not pass by 11 Dec 2006, I am toast!

Cry me a river. If you're working at a regional, you could work at just about any job outside aviation for five years and make what you would have made in "just another two years" of flying. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket.

 

[Phaedrus]

So it is OK to force an experienced pilot into poverty (No pension, no medical plan and only a small 401K

Yep. It's a tough lesson to learn, but life ain't fair. If the age is increased legally then I'll have to beeatch for awhile and then move on. You will garner zero support by puling and sobbing about how bad you've had it. And if you aren't trying to garner support you're merely annoying.

 

[GuppyWN]

I have sent out at least 100 job applications without success. I can tell you that nobody wants to hire a 60 year old pilot and ex soldier

Anybody else see the irony in this statement?

Gup

 

[Andy]

The TWA guys really did get the shaft from AMR. Pan Am and TWA were the last of the truly world class airlines, sad to see them go. No, I only flew in the Army and with regional airlines. My company does not have a defined benefit plan, only our individual 401K. I saved enough for my three daughters to finish college, I have no bills, managed to save some and I will have my house paid for. It is the medical insurance premiums that will kill me.

I have sent out at least 100 job applications without success. I can tell you that nobody wants to hire a 60 year old pilot and ex soldier. If I could fly for just another two years, I would be OK, but if the age 60 rule does not pass by 11 Dec 2006, I am toast!

Cry me a f'in river. Pal, you're f'ed. They ain't changing the age 60 rule before your a$$ is toast. You'd better start consolidating your fecal matter and get a plan B formulated.

Klako, you don't give a rat's a$$ about safety; it's all about the dollars for you. You would likely not admit that your eyesight is getting worse, your reflexes are deteriorating, and your cognitive abilities are in decline. I notice the aging process in my body and I'm more than a decade younger than you. If you're too blind to see the changes, then you're not safe at any speed. Retire before you kill a bunch of people.
I'm 45 (almost 46) and furloughed from UAL. I'll likely never see the left seat at UAL (I'm not going to waste my time chasing other pilot jobs; I've seen too many suckers go from one crash'n burn airline to another... I'll stick with this crash'n burn airline). I won't pull down big bux flying airplanes, but I've still got a retirement plan in place. Why the fork didn't you wake up and smell the java a decade ago?
I have two kids; a third is on the way (yeah, I'm a moron). The first is in college ($37K/yr tuition; it ain't no junior college), the second will be in college in 4 years.
In spite of everything, I save money (max 401k, max IRA), pay my bills and pay for college for my kid.
Why?
Because I live within my f'in paycheck. I NEVER worry about bouncing a check because I have a pad in my checking account. I always pay off my credit card bills. I have no car payments because I drive a $hitbox. I wear cheap clothes, have cheap furniture, eat cheap food, and don't go out on the town very much. I live in a $hithole apartment, but it's well within my means. I live a cheap life.

You've publically admitted that you're a dumba$$ because you haven't factored in medical insurance. 100 applications? Any of them to Walmart? I'm pretty sure that they've got medical coverage.

Folks, learn from Klako. Don't be a Klako. Have a plan; have a backup plan; live well within your means; don't count on your company's pension plan. And don't be an Andy and have a bunch of kids. My own fault; I love kids (not in THAT way, you perv!)

Klako, I suggest that you move your dumb a$$ to some banana republic where the cost of living is low and the charge is two chickens for a visit to the doctor. I'm not kidding.

 

[pilotyip]

The beauty of staying the reserves, is at age 60 you get Tri-Care for life. It is a great benefit. The extra money each month is not bad also.

 

[Phaedrus]

Andy, lots of young'uns is a good thing. It will make you poor, but rich. I have a fairly large herd myself. Everything else you said...echo.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Interesting issue--

If age 65, or some version of increased age, were passed tommorrow....

1) Hiring at many airlines would stop entirely or slow down

2) Furloughed folks would wait longer

3) Safety is indeed an issue. The age 60 rule may not have been about safety to begin with, but it is the cheap option to (mostly) ensure it. We all know older pilots who are barely hanging on. Many others are doing great, but how do you differentiate without lawsuits and letting bad apples slip thru the cracks??


On the flip side

1) The PBGC does not do payouts at age 60. It's against regulations. Nevermind the people involved are getting hurt by conflicting government regulations.

2) Social Security is geared to not pay out at 60 either. Both of these are unfair because it is hard to find similar work at 60. Lucrative airline pensions were made to compensate for this issue

3) What about the freedom to work in America? We all compete in America and to be artifically taken out of the workplace that we worked hard to secure a place in is, indeed, unfair to the individual and goes against what America stands for. At least what we are told to believe it stands for.




Over 60 to FO is a viable option but the negatives to other groups right now is a huge stumbling block. Any graduated or grandfathered option will open the floodgates to lawsuits. Leaving 60 alone is the easier option. But the government is not helping those retiring at 60 who are waiting on Social Security and the PBGC. If you stop a moment and forget those retiring rich at 60 and think about those hurting at 60 because they were at companies that did unethical things, the forced "retirement" (read jobless before official retirement age) looks incredibly unfair.


What ought to happen, but won't, is the government to find a way to dock execs at companies who screwed the older guys by pushing pensions to the PBGC. This won't happen. It didn't happen in the 80's and '90s and won't happen now.

Also, employees at MCI Worldcom, Enron, steel companies and others have faced similar "stealing" of their pensions with no real reaction from the government. The changes created "bold, new companies" and opportunities for American style capitolism.

The humanity! This is the dark side of capitolism. A few get their big bucks and big retirements while many others get empty promises and money taken away with breathtaking speed. We've all got to put as much away as we can now so when a rug is pulled out from us we can adjust. That is America.

I hate to side with the others Klako, but you are one of many that does not have a good lobby in congress. Can we change that?? I hope so.

IMHO, this is a social issue now. Not a right or wrong for the individual issue. And the government doesn't want to open the door on increasing PBGC, Social Security, or Medicare costs for any reason. That is why over 60 got rolling as far as it has, but the possible political fallout from passing it (job creation or safety) may stall it out.

 

[Klako]

· Age is not a safety a risk factor. There is no credible information available that supports the notion that airline pilots over age 60 pose more of a safety risk than younger pilots. There are, however, numerous credible reports supporting a ban on the FAA’s arbitrary age 60 mandatory retirement law. Now the FAA says that it is "NEUTRAL" as "safety" can no longer be used as a valid argument against changing the "Age 60 Rule Increasing the “Age 60 Rule” to age 65.
I would like to cite just a few of the numerous reports supporting a ban on the arbitrary age 60 mandatory retirement law, including:
1. A report published by Aviat Space Environ Med. 2002 Mar; 73(3): 194-202

Subject: The age 60 rule: Age discrimination in commercial aviation.

By: Wilkening R
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
CONCLUSION: There appears to be no medical, scientific, or safety justification for the Age 60 Rule. As such, perpetuation of the Age 60 Rule, where age alone is used as the single criterion of older pilot fitness, represents age discrimination in commercial aviation.
2. A prominent study of age and airline pilots, the Hilton Study. The study “supports the conclusion that an age 60 limit for pilots is not defensible…” and found “no hint of an increase in accident rate for pilots of scheduled air carriers as they neared their 60th birthday.” The report concluded that the age for airline pilots could safely be raised.
3. Dr. Susan Baker, of Johns Hopkins University, wrote: “…there is no scientific evidence to support the Age 60 Rule. From 1991 until 1993, I served on a panel of experts appointed by the FAA to oversee the FAA-sponsored research by Hilton Systems. This research, at a cost of well over a million dollars, found no basis for the Age 60 Rule and recommended that the age limit be increased…I would rather fly with my life in the hands of a 64 year old captain than with a 29 year old pilot flying as captain.”
4. Dr. Stacy Vereen of the Civil Aviation Medical Association wrote that the association “supports the concept that pilots operating under FAR Part 121 [airline pilots] should not be forced to retire from piloting duties based solely on attaining age 60.”
5. A scholarly treatise by Dr. Robin Wilkening. The publication Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine ran her paper one year ago. It remains the single best and most comprehensive document pertaining to the Age 60 Rule. It does, by the way, conclude that the Age 60 Rule is blatant age discrimination.
6. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 2002, pp. 194-202.
Report No.: R0340302. “The Age 60 Rule remains a most contentious and politically sensitive topic, with challenges to the Rule currently mounted in both legislative and legal arenas. Methods: An extensive review of the medical literature was accomplished using MEDLINE. Pertinent Federal Regulations were examined. Legal proceedings and public domain documents were noted. Letters and personal communication were solicited where necessary information could not be ascertained by other means. Results: The Age 60 Rule was not based on any scientific data showing that airline pilots aged 60 and older were any less safe than younger pilots, and there is evidence to indicate that the choice of age 60 was actually based on economic rather than safety considerations. Airline pilots consistently exceed general population norms for longevity, physical health, and mental abilities. Fear of an adverse pilot health event causing a crash in standard multi-crew operations is not justified. For decades, airline pilots under age 60 have been granted the means to demonstrate their fitness for flying by taking medical, cognitive, and performance evaluations that are denied to airline pi1ots when they reach age 60. Actual flight experience demonstrates that older pilots are as safe as younger pilots. International aviation experience indicates that abolishing the Age 60 Rule will not compromise aviation safety. Conclusion: There appears to be no medical, scientific, or safety justification for the Age 60 Rule. As such, perpetuation of the Age 60 Rule, where age alone is used as the single criterion of older pilot fitness, represents age discrimination in commercial aviation.”
7. After 2-plus years of study, the Aerospace Medical Association's Civil Aviation Safety Subcommittee found last year (2004) that there is insufficient medical evidence and/or accident record to support airline pilot restrictions based on age alone, published in the Association's scientific journal Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 75, No.8, August 2004. The Subcommittee thus suggests that the Association abandon its 20-plus year prior policy of support, and recommends that the FAA abandon the Age 60 Rule altogether, change the cutoff criteria, or raise the age limit. Note: This was one of the sources cited by ICAO in justifying it increase of the age limit for airline pilots.
We continue to find increasing evidence that this age 60 issue for pilots is certainly not one of safety. Safety is an exaggerated smokescreen that opponents of amending the rule use to subvert the truth. Opponents of a change have routinely waived the red flag of ‘safety’ in order to score debate points. Who, after all, can be against safety? Interestingly, the FAA grants exemptions for pilots who have had head injuries, seizures, alcohol and drug dependency, heart attacks and bypass surgery. All of these can be and are forgiven after cognitive testing but NEVER has there been an exemption for the simple fact of being one day older than 59, that magic age of 60 that somehow means a seasoned pilot no is longer fit to perform in a lifelong skill.
The rest of the world does not see piloting an airliner past the age of 60 as a safety issue. Most of the world is moving to a retirement age of 65 for airline pilots. Japan and the Netherlands, to name but two, have done extensive studies which showed raising an airline pilot’s age is not a risk. Countries such as Japan, Australia, those of the Joint Aviation Authority in Europe...all have raised their pilots’ retirement age. Some 45 nations now allow their airline pilots to fly past the age of 60. Some of these pilots do so in United States airspace. The International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, Secretariat has now recommended a new upper age limit, with restriction to multi-crew, of 65 years. This recommendation is based on extensive studies, global experience (data compiled from 63 States) with older pilots, totaling 25,500 pilot-years, and the expressed wish of 93 States. The International Civil Aviation Organization—ICAO, now recognizes the harm done by the age 60 rule standard and will amend the international standard to age 65, which should become applicable on 23 November 2006. The Burns substitute amendment to The U.S. Senate Bill S. 65, if voted into law by the U.S. Congress, would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary to adopt the ICAO standard or recommended practice within 30 days after the ICAO acts on the matter.

 

[Sluggo_63]

· Age is not a safety a risk factor.

How can you say this? Can you agree that a 99 year old is almost definitely more likely to have age-related performance problems in an aircraft than a 50 year old? Can you agree then that there is a "performance continuum" that says as age increases performance decreases? How do we define that very subjective line in the sand when someone is 'too' slow to effectively operate an aircraft? We can't leave it to the AME's because we all know that there are very wide standards on what constitutes passing a Class I physical. What is your solution? You seem very good at cutting-and-pasting information from other sources, but what do you propose as a solution to this issue? One that is fair to all involved.

 

[vetrider]

How can you say this? Can you agree that a 99 year old is almost definitely more likely to have age-related performance problems in an aircraft than a 50 year old? Can you agree then that there is a "performance continuum" that says as age increases performance decreases? How do we define that very subjective line in the sand when someone is 'too' slow to effectively operate an aircraft? We can't leave it to the AME's because we all know that there are very wide standards on what constitutes passing a Class I physical. What is your solution? You seem very good at cutting-and-pasting information from other sources, but what do you propose as a solution to this issue? One that is fair to all involved.

Well come on now, Dr. Susan Baker would rather fly with a 64 year old captain than a 29 year old captain. What more solid evidence do you need?

Seriously though, by listening to alot of these proponents of change, you'd think we are all still the studs we used to be 15, 20,30 and more years ago. Yep, they all have plenty of wonks to quote.

 

[vetrider]

The age 60 rule has been an on-going curse on the airline industry for over 45 years. The only reason why the “Age 60 Rule” is still around today is because of the persistent opposition from ALPA and APA and their lobbying efforts in Congress.


I thought ALPA fought age 60 until about 1970. So until 1970 they could not get age 60 repealed, yet now all the sudden they have the power to keep it in place? I'm not following.

 

[Sluggo_63]

Curses

The age 60 rule has been an on-going curse on the airline industry for over 45 years.

I'm sure you cursed it every month when 60 year old pilots left and you rose in seniority.

Klako: "Dang it, I moved up another 15 numbers... I wish these old guys would stick around longer, so I can hang out on reserve longer."

Klako: "Crap! If these guys keep leaving, I'll be a Captain before too long. I hope that doesn't happen for another 10 years"

Klako: "Man! I can't believe I'm a Captain already. I wish I had more time in the right seat to glean more wisdom from my 59 year old buddies. I wish they could hang out longer."

...yeah I curse it too...

 

[Klako]

I'm sure you cursed it every month when 60 year old pilots left and you rose in seniority.

Klako: "Dang it, I moved up another 15 numbers... I wish these old guys would stick around longer, so I can hang out on reserve longer."

Klako: "Crap! If these guys keep leaving, I'll be a Captain before too long. I hope that doesn't happen for another 10 years"

Klako: "Man! I can't believe I'm a Captain already. I wish I had more time in the right seat to glean more wisdom from my 59 year old buddies. I wish they could hang out longer."

...yeah I curse it too...

Some of you Junior guys have got to get it out of your selfish heads that the forced retirement of older pilots is your guaranteed path and a God given right to promotions up the seniority list. No one should have the right to steal my job, including the government, just because I celebrate my 60th birthday. The cursed "Age 60" rule must be abolished. It is just plain f%^*@!g wrong!
The crap about safety is total BS and everyone knows that.
Senate Bill S.65 has an excellent chance of passing and if it dose, everyone will ultimately benefit from it.

 

[ToThePain]

Klako et all,

I do not have a huge bone to pick with you regarding this potential law change. I do have a couple points to make. Is the age 60 law discrimination? Yes, it is. There are plenty of pilots over the age of 60 that can still fly. (there are also plenty in their 50's who have no business flying, are you willing to vote them out of their jobs?) I do find it curious that you among others support the new ICAO rules that allow over 60 to fly, AS LONG as they have someone under the age of 60 to fly with them. Why is this, if they are ok to fly over 60 then they are ok to fly, why do they need a sitter? It is also a valid point that the senior people at the airlines have been elevated to their position as a direct result of this law. They have had the benefit to an early upgrade that they wish to deny their "juniors". I don't want to work till 65, I have planned and been saving since I was 22 to retire at 60, before I even imagined and airline career. I won't even get into the arguement (though it is somewhat valid) regarding earlier upgrades and compounded interest as a result of addition funds in 401K's that the company puts away for you and its affect over 20 years.
Lets ask some other valid question. Is there a minimum age to work with most airlines? Yes, most airlines require you to be 23. Why? A new hire is going to be put with a senior guy in any case so his/her age should have no bearing. This too is discrimination. How many are hired at major airlines less that 27 years of age? Very few, in fact most are near the age of 30. How many airlines require you or strongly request you to have a college degree? Most if not all and for what reason? Does it require a college degree to fly an airplane or make you a better pilot? I think not. Is this too a form of discrimination? Hell the president of the US can't even be elected unless he is a certain age, this too is discrimination but no one raises a stink about it?
Other valid points I have observed. I have studied the airline industy quite a bit. It seems to me that whenever a concession is called for the union sticks it to the new guys, their "juniors". What do I mean by this? How bout taking a look at the pay of the first few years in any of the airlines with the exception of SWA and the cargo carriers. They screw the new guys. Some don't even get offered insurance for the first six months. I was told by some of the senior guys that that is the way of things, new guys always get the shaft because they are new and to deal with it. If I am to assume that as a new guy it is my lot in life to get screwed by the "senior guys" in the union then it is their lot in life to get "retired" at the age of 60. I have accepted the fact that as a new guy I am getting the short end of the stick. Why would you or any senior guy expect me (or other junior guys) to vote to keep you in position longer when I know that if any misfortune does occur you will vote against me, furlough me, or significantly reduce my pay.

 

[The Prussian]

Two observations:

First...I find it interesting that so far the poll results are only 62% in favor of status quo and 38% in favor of an Age 65 retirement change...this coming on a message board where I would think the VAST majority of respondents are new airline hopefulls, being fairly young, and in favor of faster retirements for quicker seat advancement....interesting!

Secondly... Andy...you're really cold!!!