Supreme Court Let Stand the Age 60 Rule

[320AV8R]

http://www.forbes.com/facesinthenews/2005/05/02/0502autofacescan08.html?partner=yahootix&referrer=

Thanks.

 

[smellthejeta]

The Figures are accurate. Sorry you dont believe them.

I don't believe them either because they aren't accurate. Please provide a link to the relavent GAO report that backs you up.

I submit the following URL, http://www.careerjournal.com/salaryhiring/industries/airlines/20050405-mccartney.html, which is a link to a story in the Wall Street Journal talking about ATC careers. The relavent paragraph is as follows:

"There should be no shortage of applicants: The average salary and benefits total $161,000 a year. Some controllers in the New York area earned more than $200,000 last year, including overtime pay necessary because of understaffing."

For the purposes of this discussion, however, I don't believe that the benefits package is included in what somebody "makes". I also don't think that it is proper to include overtime pay in somebody's base salary.

The high six-figure salaries are seen at the busiest Centers (LAX, ATL, CLE, etc) and towers (LAX, ATL, ORD, etc). So, you MIGHT be able to say that most controllers with over ten years of experience AT THOSE PARTICULAR FACILITIES may make close to $200,000 per year in gross earnings. And, it is nearly impossible to see that kind of money if you don't have a large COLA adjustment that bumps up the pay. It's just like saying the average 777 CA at Delta or United makes $200k. It's not representative of the "average" pilot.. Some pilots will never see that kind of money, and likewise, some controllers will never see that kind of money. There are also quieter facilities like ABQ Center and Salt Lake Center where the facility rating and corresponding paycheck is not as high. In short, talking about how great the center controllers have it, well, talks about how great center controllers have it. They're not representative of the average controller.

Second, as far as the pension is concerned... If ATC is ever privatized, expect the pension to be the first to go. "Never say never" applies to ALL aspects of aviation.

 

[labbats]

I agree with the above poster. Pilots of all people should be the first to be wary of a media report on high wages.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Guess what? Controllers can now work past 56 because of the controller shortage. They make on avg. at the center of $150,000 a yr and have a very nice pension that will never be taken away. Most controllers with 10yrs make in excess of $200,000 with night over-rides and holiday pay.

Not completely true. I spoke with a friend in SLC who has to retire next month and he does NOT want to, but according to the FAA only those controllers who's evals are "exceptional" are "allowed to continue to work. The amount of "exceptional" controllers can be counted on one, maybe two hands. And from what I remember, supervisor's were very unlikely to sign someones eval as exceptional - personnality issues.
The FAA is going to fumbly-f--k around until it is far past critical and then try - keyword - try to catch up and it is not going to work. As more controllers hit 56 and more have mandatory overtime to compensate for less bodies in the facilities, the burn-out or "f--k this, I'm outta here" is going to accelerate the loss far beyond FAA comprehension.