Southwest Pilots Aggressively Push Age 65

[1BigRodeo]

Dont lump us all together on the age 60 thing, our union has been highjacked by a couple of age 65ers and we are in the process of getting it back under control. I think a fresh survey of our pilot group would probably give a more sobering view on the for/against ratio. I dont think the president, or his cronies at SWAPA want to hear the majority view. They say they have a mandate from a poll from four years ago. Id venture to say that a vote today would be a bit different.

Just my .02

 

[SWA/FO]

If you think that had ANYTHING to do with age, I think you're a few apples short of a bushel.

As far as the age 65 thing, the ONE thing that ticks me off about being forced BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to retire at 60 is the fact that we're not allowed to receive social security or medicare until after we turn 65. In my opinion, changing that for all workers forced to retire prior to 65 is where we pilot's legislative efforts should be concentrated.

this is what I was trying to say.

 

[chris69]

I kind of agree with Judge and 1BR. Wholly in the middle myself. Age 60 is discrimination, but so is not letting those already retired come back in the event of a change. What date does a change start? I'm not for anyone getting a windfall. Whatever happens, it's gotta be fair. One example would be an immediate end to the rule on an arbitrary date; those turning 60 on Dec 31 2006, sorry you're done. Those turning 60 on Jan 1 2007, you just got 5 more years. Some windfall. If it changes, it's gotta be prorated and phased in. 61 in 2007, 62 in 2008, 63 in 2009 etc. Then the furloughs at least have a shot at a career and some semblance of normal upgrade patterns prevail.

 

[Uppercrust]

So what is fair and what is not?? Is a 100 meter race unfair compared to a 1500 meter race just because it is shorter. It's not, if everyone agrees upon the rules and understands the distance. Can't take credit from that analogy, it was from a Steve Prefontaine movie. I do like it.

When it comes to the age 60 rule it has been there for some time and people have agreed to the rule. My gut feeling is that some sort of compromise will come about this year and it will slowly be phased in over several years. Guyd over 60 or close can't complain, since their race is close to done and the rules when they started were there. Guys 57ish and below all just have to agree and understand the new terms. Kinda like a 100 meter race!

 

[Fly-diver]

Thanks Falcon and SWA/FO for the honest estimate. My honest question is: If your going to have over 3 mil. why work?

"For the love of the game"

Here's a headline for ya... SWA pilots LUV to fly airplanes!!! Who knew?

 

[roughneck]

Southwest pilots as a whole don't support age 60 going away in my opinion. SWAPA says we do, but we haven't voted recently on the issue. 60% of the seniorty list wasn't even on property when the last vote was held.

SWAPA leadership and a few over zealous guys are making the push. Not SWA pilots as a whole. They had 40 something guys turn out to lobby congress. Not an overwhelming turnout if you ask me. Most guys I talk too don't want the rule to change.

It is a matter of some wanting their cake and wanting to eat it too. Unfortunately for most of us, it probably will change.

 

[vetrider]

Foxhunter, I'd bet that you are wrong. It is widely expected that the FAA will file an exception to this change. IF the US files an exception, no foreign pilot over 60 will be permitted into US airspace.

And FWIW, the US has the most exceptions to ICAO rules of any country.

Hi Andy, I'm curious if you have anything specific to make you believe that the FAA will file an exception to allowing ICAO rule folks over 60 into the US? This is the first I have heard from anyone saying such a thing and I hadn't even thought of it till you brought it up.

Since Marion Blakey is on record saying that if asked to testify the FAA would be neutral on upping the age, I would think that the FAA would not be thinking of filing an exception to the ICAO this fall.

Personally I think the age 60 rule works, but I'm not really opposed to 65 either. I think it will all come out in the wash anyway.

 

[thruthemurk]

I kind of agree with Judge and 1BR. Wholly in the middle myself. Age 60 is discrimination, but so is not letting those already retired come back in the event of a change. What date does a change start? I'm not for anyone getting a windfall. Whatever happens, it's gotta be fair. One example would be an immediate end to the rule on an arbitrary date; those turning 60 on Dec 31 2006, sorry you're done. Those turning 60 on Jan 1 2007, you just got 5 more years. Some windfall. If it changes, it's gotta be prorated and phased in. 61 in 2007, 62 in 2008, 63 in 2009 etc. Then the furloughs at least have a shot at a career and some semblance of normal upgrade patterns prevail.

Interestingly enough, these two methods produce nearly identical results. If you turned 60 before Jan 1, 2007 you would be out. Otherwise the limit would bump up each year as you aged one year and you would be good all the way to 65. Am I seeing that wrong??

Murk

 

[xanderman]

well...

Why you hanging out on a Southwest Airlines thread?

'Cause if we didn't all of you SWA folk would be in here all by yourselves jumpin' around and slapping each other on the a$$ as though you giving "high-fives!"

Who the he11 wants to work until 65 anyway? Plan ahead and start a savings of some sort to fill in the gap...

I know.... Not that insightful but...

Andy

P.S. I loved the "Southwest invented oxygen" comment. That was funny!

 

[b747dogg]

I think that dork who petitioned for a vote to extend the contract should of petition a vote for support of the age 60. There is no way it would pass, it only passed by a couple percent last time.

 

[roadrunnerblue]

Senate panel sympathetic to Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines Co. won victories from a U.S. Senate panel Tuesday, which voted to expand destinations the carrier can serve from Dallas Love Field and raise the retirement age for pilots.

Limits on Southwest destinations from Love would be lifted in eight years, and the carrier could immediately connect Love passengers to airports throughout the United States, under a bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee's transportation panel.

The $69 billion budget legislation approved Tuesday in Washington also requires the Federal Aviation Administration to raise the mandatory retirement age for all airline pilots to 65 from 60. Dallas-based Southwest has been a major proponent of raising the age so it's pilots could work longer.

The FAA since 1959 has required that airline pilots retire at 60, saying a higher age could hurt safety.

From Bloomberg, AP, staff reports




With some of the highest paid pilots in the industry, why are the Southwest pilots so aggressively pursuing the increase in age to 65? If their retirement isn’t good enough, instead of hosing the rest of us, why doesn’t SWAPA just negotiate a better retirement at their company?

AA767AV8TOR

That is because some of us work for messed up airlines that do not provide a pension nor medical after age 60!!!

 

[satpak77]

why would ANYONE want to be still working for someone else at age 65?

jeez, play golf, fly your Bonanza, go to Oshkosh, and enjoy the grandkids while you still can.

fly airliners for some company at age 65? you gotta be kidding me

 

[Andy]

Andy I hope UAL furloughs you next. That will teach you to wish bad karma on me!!

You're a friggin' rocket scientist. I'm already furloughed. I will be recalled this fall; will take MLOA. I'm also hoping that UAL turns around and furloughs me again ... more furlough pay!

As for wishing you 'bad' karma, that is incorrect. I merely stated that I was counting on karma to take care of you. You chose to insert bad instead of good. Very telling.

... and thanks for wishing that I'll get furloughed from UAL again. I could use the extra cash while on mil leave.

 

[Andy]

Hi Andy, I'm curious if you have anything specific to make you believe that the FAA will file an exception to allowing ICAO rule folks over 60 into the US? This is the first I have heard from anyone saying such a thing and I hadn't even thought of it till you brought it up.

Since Marion Blakey is on record saying that if asked to testify the FAA would be neutral on upping the age, I would think that the FAA would not be thinking of filing an exception to the ICAO this fall.

Personally I think the age 60 rule works, but I'm not really opposed to 65 either. I think it will all come out in the wash anyway.

Link: http://www.intl-pilot.com/content/view/27/16/

Don't forget that Blakely is a politician. She will make wishy washy statements that don't decisively favor or oppose the age 60 rule; it's a political football.
I prefer to see what she has directed her minions to testify. In the link below, you can read about the FAA's Federal Air Surgeon said in testimony (page 11): http://www.faa.gov/library/reports/medical/fasmb/media/Vol43_3.pdf

 

[satpak77]

Andy I hope UAL furloughs you next.

nice comment bro, real professional

representing SWAPA once again....good job