Japan Raises Pilot Retirement Age to 67

[Furloughed80]

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20150221_21.html

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Plans to raise from 64 to 67. Basically, that's the entire article.

 

[Furloughed80]

Apparently the age increase to 67 has already been enacted and is to take effect immediately.

 

[Furloughed80]

http://www.japantoday.com/smartphone/view/national/pilots-retirement-age-to-be-raised-to-67-to-cope-with-shortage

 

[General Lee]

Canada already goes to 70, but at 65 the Captain has to go to narrowbody FO or Cruise Officer on a Widebody, that never does takeoffs or landings. It's been like that for a few years now, and no change here yet. I prefer that method because it preserves upgrades. I honestly don't know if that kind of "culture change" could occur in Japan. There, the Capt is THE CAPT.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[FoxHunter]

I think you will find it is actually age 68.

 

[General Lee]

I think you will find it is actually age 68.

Regardless, it hasn't changed the rules here in the States yet. Japan and their culture make it tougher to downgrade a Capt to an FO, but that doesn't seem to be the case in Canada. If anything like that happens here, I would hope they go the way of Canada. It's probably safer, and preserves upgrades.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Dumb Pilot]

The situation in Japan as far as pilot shortages is dire...! Both ANA & JAL have massive retirements and they are expanding their international routes with big A/C orders. Both companies have a contractual retirement age of 60 but they have relaxed the contract to allow over 60 pilots to come back to the line but they have had to offer big bonuses to get people to come back with an over 60 contract, these pilots are indeed restricted to domestic flights and can fly international long haul as cruise captains or F/O's (not PIC) JAL in particular is having serious problems to get people to stay beyond age 60..., people just want to retire and not deal with the strict medicals pass the age of 60..., also the fact that they lose their RTC/TRE certification and are only allowed to stay in the training department as SIM instructors. Pass the age of 63 the medical gets even tougher and many fail it, so the chance that someone will remain on the line until 67 is slim...! Lots of rumors about JAL planing to offer a foreign pilot contract due to not being able to cover their schedules. Captains are downgraded to F/O's under certain situations more often than you think and their duty is limited to the least fatiguing rosters.

 

[General Lee]

The situation in Japan as far as pilot shortages is dire...! Both ANA & JAL have massive retirements and they are expanding their international routes with big A/C orders. Both companies have a contractual retirement age of 60 but they have relaxed the contract to allow over 60 pilots to come back to the line but they have had to offer big bonuses to get people to come back with an over 60 contract, these pilots are indeed restricted to domestic flights and can fly international long haul as cruise captains or F/O's (not PIC) JAL in particular is having serious problems to get people to stay beyond age 60..., people just want to retire and not deal with the strict medicals pass the age of 60..., also the fact that they lose their RTC/TRE certification and are only allowed to stay in the training department as SIM instructors. Pass the age of 63 the medical gets even tougher and many fail it, so the chance that someone will remain on the line until 67 is slim...! Lots of rumors about JAL planing to offer a foreign pilot contract due to not being able to cover their schedules. Captains are downgraded to F/O's under certain situations more often than you think and their duty is limited to the least fatiguing rosters.

Nothing seems easy in Japan. Your initial training at Air Japan, wasn't it like 4-6 months in total? The students there in school have tutoring daily, with many finishing after sunset. What did impress me is their commitment to excellence in ANY job. Nothing seemed "below" them. They work as hard as possible to do the best they can.

I bet their medicals for over age 60 pilots aren't easy.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Nothing seems easy in Japan. Your initial training at Air Japan, wasn't it like 4-6 months in total? The students there in school have tutoring daily, with many finishing after sunset. What did impress me is their commitment to excellence in ANY job. Nothing seemed "below" them. They work as hard as possible to do the best they can.

I bet their medicals for over age 60 pilots aren't easy.



Bye Bye---General Lee

Six months up to the point of the check ride...! Two more months on line training LOL....! Lots of time off in between though..., not as bad as it sound.

The over 60 medicals are very tough, and the over 63 medicals are very difficult to pass, amongst other things you have to wear a heart monitor for a 24 hour period, any misstep from the ticker..., and you lose the medical for up to a year.

 

[DUBLINFLYER]

They should extend it to 80 and bring back a few Kamikazes that failed flight school

 

[bafanguy]

The situation in Japan as far as pilot shortages is dire...! Lots of rumors about JAL planing to offer a foreign pilot contract due to not being able to cover their schedules.

Didn't JAL have a number of Americans flying for them in years past ? It would've been quite a number of years ago and I remember IASCO being the sole supplier. Am I recalling this correctly ?

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Didn't JAL have a number of Americans flying for them in years past ? It would've been quite a number of years ago and I remember IASCO being the sole supplier. Am I recalling this correctly ?

Correct..., this contract went away with JAL's bankruptcy. But go forward 6-7 years and they are back making a profit looking at empty flight-decks.

Like us on the "blue team" this contract at AJX was supposed to be gone by now...., but now the order is to keep hiring through 2018 and the outlook is to expect AJX to be part of the ANA group for the foreseeable future...!

Of course, in aviation foreseeable can change in 24 hours LOL!

 

[atpcliff]

Another example of airline management's failure to plan ahead. JAL would have much less a shortage if they retained ALL of the Americans...and it would make it easier for them to recruit Americans now.

In my que, next to this article is SWA announcing that a 737 type rating was no longer required, in part because of the ever-worsening pilot shortage (from HRs point of view).

Also saw a number of jobs in China announcing choices of 9 different rostering patterns.

 

[jmreii]

Another example of airline management's failure to plan ahead. JAL would have much less a shortage if they retained ALL of the Americans...and it would make it easier for them to recruit Americans now.

In my que, next to this article is SWA announcing that a 737 type rating was no longer required, in part because of the ever-worsening pilot shortage (from HRs point of view).

Also saw a number of jobs in China announcing choices of 9 different rostering patterns.

Companies/businesses in the US will do whatever is necessary to fill a position except pay more money. Businesses overseas are completely opposite to that particular philosophy.

 

[Andy]

The change is to 68, not 67. And it will eventually change in the US to mirror the rest of ICAO.

I expect this to change in Asia first, then Europe. Once that happens, it will also change in the US.

Pandora's Box was opened with the change to 65. Each new age change will be easier for Congress to pass.

Congress will be happy to pass the change because it will extend Social Security solvency.

Airlines won't oppose the change because it allows them to pay lower wages due to adequate pilot supply.

ALPA will quietly support it because it means more dues.

 

[Boxboy]

If/when ALPA turns its cheeks again, I just hope we adopt Canada's policy. If not, every capt over 65 should be mandated to lock their shoulder harness below 10,000'. God help us all.

 

[FoxHunter]

If/when ALPA turns its cheeks again, I just hope we adopt Canada's policy. If not, every capt over 65 should be mandated to lock their shoulder harness below 10,000'. God help us all.

Copied from PPRUNE

A number of over 70, Airline pilots (one turning 75 this year) still flying A320 on domestic operations in New Zealand as there is no age discrimination. International operations are limited to 65 due to ICAO standards in other countries.

 

[General Lee]

The change is to 68, not 67. And it will eventually change in the US to mirror the rest of ICAO.

I expect this to change in Asia first, then Europe. Once that happens, it will also change in the US.

Pandora's Box was opened with the change to 65. Each new age change will be easier for Congress to pass.

Congress will be happy to pass the change because it will extend Social Security solvency.

Airlines won't oppose the change because it allows them to pay lower wages due to adequate pilot supply.

ALPA will quietly support it because it means more dues.

No, ALPA in Canada already approved their version, and it keeps the dues coming, but at 65 they all go to FO on a narrowbody or Cruise Officer on a Widebody. If they NEED to keep flying, they can do it from the right seat after they do the "hobble round."


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Andy]

No, ALPA in Canada already approved their version, and it keeps the dues coming, but at 65 they all go to FO on a narrowbody or Cruise Officer on a Widebody. If they NEED to keep flying, they can do it from the right seat after they do the "hobble round."


Bye Bye---General Lee

That's what we want, but that's not what's going to happen. They'll stay in the left seat.