People talk about the windfall that will go to the 50ish pilots when age 60 changes(and it will change) well what about the windfall that came to the pilots who moved up quickly when all of the over 60 pilots were summarily retired when age 60 took effect. I predict that 5 yrs after the change people will wonder what all the fuss was about. Lastly--all of you who haven't upgraded yet and complain about your upgrade being delayed--well when you signed on did they give you a date--was it scheduled when you were first hired? As for APA, I'd just like to see how their reps can say its about safety and caring for the travelling public with a straight face--they must be world class liars like Bill Clinton-its about the money, nothing more nothing less. Let AA keep age 60--after all it was their boy CR Smith that gave it to us in the first place, only fitting.
Airfogey
I am not really thrilled about Age60 changing.. I've been taking hits, like all of us, since 9/11. I don't want to wait another five years to get hired by a career company....
With that said, there are bigger problems than age 60. Namely globalization/liberalization and our own divisiveness over the issues... including age60.
ALPA isn't against age60...they just know they can't hold back the tide and they are working on building a workable system to deal with the water..... the tide is coming...how you deal with it says alot...
The APA guys can afford to rattle thier sabre's (no pun) cause it is all bark..there is no bite....
Give me an APA PAC address?
APA needs a membership drive. APA has a golden opportunity.
If you want to give money to the APA's PAC it is acalled CAPA-PAC. They are in with IPA, SWAPA, NPA and IBT... They are smart enough not to address issues that ALPA-PAC address or at least counter them... so give your money to CAPA-PAC but it won't adress age60.
Maybe the APA can get skywest pilots and go from there... Heack..maybe the APA can get all of ALPA.... It doesn't matter what we are called just as long as we are all under one name...
Here is waht CAPA-PAC address...
CAPA is presently focused on a number of key concerns facing the airline industry and the millions who depend on its safe daily operation. In the post-9/11 world, airport security has become a critical aspect of national defense, and CAPA advocates a number of security improvements to include:
- Careful screening of all airport employees, including contracted workers, before they enter secure areas. Screening would include a combination of security background checks, random physical screening (wand, pat-down, visual inspections and electronic portals), and biometric ID for passage into the SIDA area.
- Biometric Identification cards for all law enforcement, government workers such as FAA inspectors, all part 121 passenger and cargo pilots, aircraft mechanics and cabin crewmembers who have access to the flight deck.
- Inspections of cargo on the bottom side for all cargo carriers vs. screening based on dependence of the known shipper program.
- Immediate sharing of updated security directives and potential threats directly with the cargo and passenger pilots in command (the Captain), who play a critical role in aircraft security.
- Strengthening the Federal Flight Deck Officer program (FFDO), which trains and monitors pilots who carry firearms in the event of a hijacking or terrorist incident.
- Security measures to address the threat of shoulder-mounted rockets (MANPADS) that pose a grave danger to commercial air traffic.
- Increased airport surveillance and airport perimeter security.
- Flight time duty time issues to include; 1) length of crew duty day, 2) reserve rest periods for International crewmembers, 3) new flight time limitations based on circadian rhythms, limited flight hours based on compensatory rest before next duty sequence.
- Closer examination of cosmic radiation exposures and health affects of a long term career exposure to high altitude radiation.
- Pension protections for the career aviator.
- No Flight Deck imaging recorders…CAPA supports preventative measures for aircraft safety verses reactionary spending programs that secure the future of government agencies.
- No changes to the existing airman medical certificates.
And that is one of the issues... you don't know how to even begin to effect change properly.... I applaud your education, but imagine if you were politically savvy in in defending your political career..... you wouldn't be complaining that things weren't getting done, you'd be telling guys how to get it done....
