DOT seeks age 60 opinion, young guys speak up

[tomgoodman]

Not for a while

So when (date) does the FAA make the decision either way?

The study group has 60 days to make a report, then the FAA mulls it over and (maybe) issues an NPRM for public comment, studies the responses, sounds out their political bosses, etc. etc. It could take several months.

 

[LearLove]

I sent them my note I will put it down below I know someone will be able to come up with something better but here is a start:

"Please keep the safety valve in place. The older you get the more deterioration you have in both mental and physical abilities. These pilots asking for an increase in the mandatory retirement age are jeopardizing our airlines and your lives. There is no reason to let anyone at the controls of a passenger jet that is over 60. The only thing increasing the age will do is increase the likelihood that an accident will happen. No one can say that a 65 year old pilot is safer than a 60 year old pilot so why take the chance. This rule has helped the U.S. to have the safest air carriers in the world so I see no reason to tempt fate and change a rule that is working."

I'm all in favor of keeping the age 60, BUT NOT based on this knuckle heads comments.

 

[N2264J]

Please keep the safety valve in place. The older you get the more deterioration you have in both mental and physical abilities. These pilots asking for an increase in the mandatory retirement age are jeopardizing our airlines and your lives.

You sound hysterical. In fact, pilots up to age 65 from all over the world will be flying into this country soon as the ICAO is adopting the new standard next month.

Indeed, Duane Woerth signed ALPA's Jazz contract that permits Canadian pilots to fly up to 65.

It's not about safety and it's never been about safety.

 

[munson]

why dont you old farts pop some viagra and go enjoy some time away from flying. I dont get why someone would want to do this job a single day past 60. If you are nearing that age, you made it through the golden years of aviation/pay, and if you didnt save up enough to make it through your own golden years...THATS NOT MY PROBLEM. Quit pulling up the ladder behind you. You reaped the benifits of the age 60 rule, now get outta my seat. If safety is not a factor as many of you are saying, then why cant the flight go unless a young buck is in the next seat. I personaly dont care about the safety factor, nor do I think most of the protests to the rule REALLY care about it either. Its the fact that your still lingering around stinkin of moth balls when you should be home huggin the wife and grandkids.

 

[zonker]

Hopefully they'll drop dead in their coveted left seat...it'll serve them right.

 

[El Pobre]

I don't see why more companies aren't in favor of the age 65 rule. The actuarial tables are pretty clear. For the average pilot that works to 65, the average age of death is 66.5 yrs. At age 60, it's about 75 years old. If I were management, why pay a guy retirement to sit at home for 10-15 years when you could pay him for 5 more years of productive work and then only pay 1-2 years of retirement.

As more companies get rid of A plans, I'm sure that they will be pushing age 60 only since it is in their economic interstest to hire younger (cheaper) pilots, especially if they don't have to pay any retirement benefits.

Live reasonably, keep the first wife (or at least the second), retire at 60, and get a hobby or something. Nothing more pathetic than some of these geezers who have nothing else to do but fly until they die (hopefully not with me on board).

 

[FoxHunter]

Hopefully they'll drop dead in their coveted left seat...it'll serve them right.

That comment says volumes about your character.

 

[Oh-ryan]

I don't see why more companies aren't in favor of the age 65 rule. The actuarial tables are pretty clear. For the average pilot that works to 65, the average age of death is 66.5 yrs. At age 60, it's about 75 years old.
If I were management, why pay a guy retirement to sit at home for 10-15 years when you could pay him for 5 more years of productive work and then only pay 1-2 years of retirement.
As more companies get rid of A plans, I'm sure that they will be pushing age 60 only since it is in their economic interstest to hire younger (cheaper) pilots, especially if they don't have to pay any retirement benefits.

Live reasonably, keep the first wife (or at least the second), retire at 60, and get a hobby or something. Nothing more pathetic than some of these geezers who have nothing else to do but fly until they die (hopefully not with me on board).

Cause it's a lot cheaper to pay his retirement than to pay him widebody/20 year captain pay for those 5 years. Sure you lose his productivity, but you solve that problem by promoting the 40 year old / 10 year FO to captain and hire a 30 year old first year FO. It's a lot cheaper than paying the old timer his captain pay until he is 65. And that is what its all about. Money and politics... safety has nothing to do with it.

 

[General Lee]

Cause it's a lot cheaper to pay his retirement than to pay him widebody/20 year captain pay for those 5 years. Sure you lose his productivity, but you solve that problem by promoting the 40 year old / 10 year FO to captain and hire a 30 year old first year FO. It's a lot cheaper than paying the old timer his captain pay until he is 65. And that is what its all about. Money and politics... safety has nothing to do with it.

More senior pilots have more vacation, and use more sick time. (they are old and need more time off--they are tired) It also has to do with pay scales. Longevity, or years of service, max's out at 12 years at DL. IF they could get a 10 year guy to do the Captain seat instead of the guys at the top of the scale, then they save money. Jetblue started with all guys at year 1. But now it is getting more expensive for them because people are climbing the pay ladder. Most Captains at DL have hit the top scale for a while now.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Lear70]

why dont you old farts pop some viagra and go enjoy some time away from flying. I dont get why someone would want to do this job a single day past 60.

Ummm... MAYBE for the same reason YOU want to... they LOVE to fly? MAYBE they have all the money the need but still enjoy their profession?

Just a thought,,, not that you'll even attempt to understand (or could grasp the concept).

If you are nearing that age, you made it through the golden years of aviation/pay, and if you didnt save up enough to make it through your own golden years...THATS NOT MY PROBLEM. Quit pulling up the ladder behind you. You reaped the benifits of the age 60 rule, now get outta my seat. If safety is not a factor as many of you are saying, then why cant the flight go unless a young buck is in the next seat. I personaly dont care about the safety factor, nor do I think most of the protests to the rule REALLY care about it either. Its the fact that your still lingering around stinkin of moth balls when you should be home huggin the wife and grandkids.

Again, who said it's all about the money?

And, incidentally, who died and made YOU king?

Get out of your seat? Typical "ME-ME-ME" mentality of Gen X or Y or whatever the hell you are. Lazy, PFT, work for sh*t Regional F/O wage, "I just wanna get to a major at any cost" so-called "professional" pilot. Guys like you should be ashamed of yourself.

No wonder this country has gone to hell in a handbasket. Guys like you take all the honor and ethics out of the profession, and management LOVES you for it. Well done.

p.s. I'm not an "old fart", although I am a child of the 80's, and I REALLY WISH this wasn't an anonymous board... it would be really nice to know who some of you people are for future reference (like when you come to interview). I don't think we need any guys lacking moral fiber like yourself over here...

I hope they raise the retirement age to 65 and guys like you lose your medical to diabetes or a heart problem at age 60 when you're still wanting to fly. THAT would be poetic justice for you undercutting little bastards.

I feel better now...