Hoot Gibson retires - comments on age 60

[Occam's Razor]

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.

Excellent!

 

[Quack]

Didn't they make a movie with Clint Eastwood and 60 something year old astronauts...go do that forget about the cattle

 

[Cobra]

Ohhh, Booo-Hooooo. Sorry, no pun intended.

Citation Shares will hire you. You would enjoy it.

 

[embpic1]

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....

 

[Nindiri]

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.

 

[SlapShot]

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.

 

[FoxHunter]

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.

Wrong person!!

 

[fatboyplt]

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

 

[Falconjet]

Guy ought to spend some time on a beach tapping that phd wife of his.

JMHO

FJ

 

[skiandsurf]

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....

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.

 

[satpak77]

sandman who is that in your Avatar

 

[atafan]

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.

Exactly!

I've got twenty years left to fly and I'm ready to retire now but I certainly don't begrudge those that don't want to retire. All I hear mouthing off about the age 60 rule are a bunch of punks who will be kicking and screaming as they are forced to retire at 60.

I've heard this same type of talk when I was much younger and the old guys, those 30 year olds, were saying the same thing, "kick those old captains out and let me upgrade and fly the good life". Fast forward 20+ years and those same big mouths are screaming to end the age 60 rule.

Just admit it, greed and only greed is driving your resistance to pushing the age 60 rule up a hand full of years.

PATHETIC!

Thank God we have men of Hoots character, ability and drive in our country.We should all be sad that this great resource is being forced from a job he can continue to perform exceptionally well.

 

[abe44]

I don't know much about Hoot, but from the above thread he looks like an incredible guy and well-accomplished aviator (to say the least!)

My question is, Why didn't Hoot start his Age 60 retirement rant when he got hired at SWA? Why is it so important in his life now? (maybe because he is the one who had to go now??)

My dad retired from FedEx at 60. He hasn't regretted it one day. He and my mom have travelled the world, worked for several weeks rebuilding Katrina victims homes in Mississippi, and spent countless days with their grandkids.

My dad wakes up in the morning and decides if he wants to go golfing, fly-fishing, or spend time with his "little brother" that he sponsors in the Big Brother program.

My dad isn't incredibly wealthy now (but he was smart and planned ahead)....doesn't command a $200,000 paycheck....doesn't get to control a 100 million dollar jet across the globe. But he is the happiest person I know.

Why.....Because he realized that this "fun" career we all know and love is just a great way to get to the most important (and most fun) part of your life: spending time with your family and giving back to the community (and having a hell of a lot of fun on your own terms).

To Mr. Hoot Gibson, Congratulations and thank you for your incredible service to our country. I wish you luck and happiness in your retirement!


Abe 44

 

[sonny320]

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....

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't he know he had to retire at age 60 when he was hired. Don't understand why people like to change the rules in the middle of the game in order to benefit themselves...also I don't think he lost his pension with SWA as compared to others. If he's so "not ready to quit" he could still fly but not at his current job. Enjoy retirement...there is more to life then flying for a living!!

 

[Big Duke Six]

Atafan:

Just admit it, greed and only greed is driving your resistance to pushing the age 60 rule up a hand full of years.

PATHETIC!

Just a quick question for ya - if the horrible "G" word (greed) is, in your opinion, so shameful a reason for the cursed majority wanting to keep the rules the same, what is YOUR noble reason for wanting to change it? Is it so you can continue to bless the world with your incredible experience and skills? The very fact that you (and Hoot, by the way) have your jobs now is due in large part to this very rule. How vile is it that you now believe that since YOU"RE there, it should now be changed for some holy reason? Your argument is SO transparent that it just about makes me sick to read it.

You should be ashamed of yourself coming out here and announcing semi-publicly that you DO NOT want to get out of this business in time to enjoy your family and the other fruits of your labor. To me, THAT is PATHETIC sir.

I'll give you one thing though. NEW RULE: If one part of the Federal gov't (FAA) forces a person to retire at a certain age, then federal retirement benefits (Soc Sec) should be available that very moment to said individual. No gap. The current situation IS WRONG and should be addressed.

The part that kills me about the proposed change is the requirement to have an FO under age 60 in the cockpit with the elderly. If that doesn't speak volumes about the hypocrisy of the pro-65 camp I don't know what does. And, if your argument really was genuine, then you would be railing for NO AGE LIMIT, because 65 is just as arbitrary as 60 is. If you really want to be noble, push for the change, but then slide in a mandate that says it kicks in AFTER you personally retire at age 60. That way, we'll know you had nothing to gain in all this and are doing it for all the "right" reasons.

Thanks for your service Hoot. This really is not the end but merely the beginning of a new chapter.

 

[satpak77]

The following is not a strike against Hoot's obvious contributions to aviation and his dedicated military service. It IS however, a common theme amongst military, police/law enforcement, pilots, and other occupations.

Duke has had institutional structure in his life from Day-1 in the Navy. Since age 22, 23, someone has told him when the chow hall opened, when it closed, and told him what he will do between those times. This continued into NASA, then SWA, where he is told where to fly and when. Sure he can pick and choose as a Capt, but at the end of the day, he is still living and working in a structured environment with rules and regulations. At both NASA and SWA, he had mandatory sim checks, physicals, etc. He had structure.

Now, the structured life he has known since 22 is over. BOOM. Age 60. Mandatory retirement. BOOM. No more structure provided by an institution, by a "bigger" entity. Now Hoot must live and operate in a post-ShawShank Redemption environment, free of rules and reins. Financially, he is set. NASA Pension, SWA benefits package, etc. MD Wife, also an astronaut, etc.

Finances are not the issue. Even "the love of flying" is not the issue. Hoot is active in EAA and is a sought after speaker. So its not like he is "leaving aviation." I am sure Boeing, FlightSafety, SWA, Higher Power, would love to tap him and hire him in some sort of capacity. He lives in Houston. CAL and NASA also in some sort of capacity.

When a guy like Hoot says he is "not ready", there are bigger things at play, even if guised as "I will miss the cockpit" type of remarks.

In law enforcement, hard charging cops and detectives who worked cases their whole career, and then retire, unless they have an "outside life" and hobbies, etc, they typically drop dead within 5 years, since "their life" of work is now stopped, so literally their biological life stops also.

FYI. When we all retire, or actually pre-retirement, we should all have outside hobbies, interests, grandkids to pickup, RV trips to Grand Canyon, small businesses, etc etc waiting.

The alternative is statistically not a good one.

Good luck to you Hoot and relax and enjoy your retirement

 

[atafan]

You should be ashamed of yourself coming out here and announcing semi-publicly that you DO NOT want to get out of this business in time to enjoy your family and the other fruits of your labor. To me, THAT is PATHETIC sir.

If you re-read my post you will read that I stated I was planning on exiting the industry. I am planning on exiting this industry only because of personal issues and wanting to spend more quality time with my family. I will take another huge pay cut but making money and pushing aluminum around the world has become less important to me.

You won't see me attempt to mandate others to make this same decision, this is mine and mine alone.

The very fact that you (and Hoot, by the way) have your jobs now is due in large part to this very rule.

Hoot only put in 10 years at SWA, the responsiblity for his position in his airline career was due mainly to SWA's keen management and expansion plans.

As for me, been with three upstarts, commuters, one major airline, plumbing, construction, garbage collecting, truck driving and at ATA, FO - CA and FO again. Yeah, I really owe a tremendous amount to captains retiring ahead of me affording this stellar career. But having said that, I've been flying commercially since I was 18 years old and wouldn't change a thing.

And, if your argument really was genuine, then you would be railing for NO AGE LIMIT, because 65 is just as arbitrary as 60 is.

BINGO, I think a mandatory retirement at any age is wrong and should be changed. I think you will find some guys flying past 65 and many more not making it past 55 if you applied more strict medical requirements the older you get.

Listen friend, I'm not trying to get into a mud slinging contest. I just want you and everyone else to step back and look at this issue with a fair and thoughtful mind. Forget about the argument, "you knew what you were getting into 20 years ago so just suck it up". That statement is so un-American, so backwards thinking and doesn't solve anything.

The real issue should be, are you healthy and sharp enough to do your job safely and efficiently. How do you decide this issue should be at the fore front not a mandatory age. Real medical testing with requirements escalating after say 40 is the real answer. Trust me, I know some 40 year olds that will never pass a stress test.

I apologize for the Greed slam. We are all greedy in one form or another, let's just say, I think if you believe in mandatory retirement you are just not looking at the issue clearly and informed as well as you should be.

And for the record I thought this same way when I was a teenager, and I never thought I would get old.........

 

[Purpledog]

But Gibson said ALPA members don't want the change because pilots who retire at 60 enjoy a hefty benefits package.
.

except at:

Southwest Airlines, whose pilots are not represented by the ALPA, is on record as supporting a change in the age limit, spokesman Ed Stewart said Friday, as does the Southwest Airlines Pilot Association.

That sums it up. All about money. They keep referring to ICAO. The only reason ICAO adopted the change is because they are critically short of pilots. Go move to the UK old timers and fly til they cart you off the plane in a pine box.

 

[SWA/FO]

I'll give you one thing though. NEW RULE: If one part of the Federal gov't (FAA) forces a person to retire at a certain age, then federal retirement benefits (Soc Sec) should be available that very moment to said individual. No gap. The current situation IS WRONG and should be addressed.

above is angle that this whole argument should be attacked.

I also think you can still work and enjoy your Family. You don't have to be retired to "enjoy" you Family.

 

[Big Duke Six]

Atafan:

Nice post. I didn't realize when you said you were ready to leave it meant you were going to leave. This business is hard on families and it sounds like you have your head on straight. I hope you continue flying, at least for fun, if you do leave this profession.

The more I self-reflect about this subject, the more I realize that the current age 60 rule is a blessing in disguise. For many of the same reasons you are considering leaving now, I will be thankful that I will not have to make that decision at age 60 if it stays as-is. I truly feel that many of the guys trying to change the rule now don't see the big picture. Their judgement is being clouded by thoughts of huge paychecks rolling in for 5 more years, not realizing it will be 5 more years of being away from home with the people that love them. It will be 5 more years of self-induced stress on a family that will go unsaid because "that's what Dad does". Yes, some got royally screwed by our system and currupt airline management, but ultimately, money doesn't bring happiness.

I have about 15 more years left to go to age 60. I'd rather put myself under the pressure NOW to save money to retire by 60, rather than later have the option to keep working. I am scrambling hard now trying to get ready for retirement by flying more than I should sometimes. I want to get ready to retire NOW and not be tempted when I turn 60.

One of the best things I ever read asked "What will your kids remember about their childhood when they grow up?". Will they remember that Dad made 120k one year instead of 100k? Will they know or even care that the car you drove them around in was a year old or 10? No, but they will remember when Dad was there.

So, I believe keeping the age 60 rule is for the best. Yes, I may miss out on a lot of money at the end of my career. Since nobody has a crystal ball though, I think it better to be more disciplined and smart now rather than hope I'm still fit to fly 15 or 20 years down the road. I've seen people deteriorate rapidly after 60, and I think it's a mental attitude to a large degree, but I want to go have fun when I retire, not be tempted to work 5 more years. For what?