Rocco

What will the age 65 passage do to hiring over the next few years?

I know at UPS there are 60 + that will hit 60 in 2008. 100+ that are over 60 but less than 63. UPS already announced (rumor) that only 50 or so will be hired in 2008.

SWA has about 170+ that hit 60 in 2008 with about 400 in the hiring pool. Their growth was projected at 300-400 pilots for 08 (someone correct me if I am wrong).

FedEx has supposedly started taking applications again. Will this force more newbies, people already on the seniority list to Paris and HK. Or are they gonna take poolies or hire to those new domiciles?

CAL has one of the oldest pilot groups. I saw that about 150+ would retire a year because of age 60. Now that 65 legislation looks like it will pass, Will they stop hiring?

Other carriers?

Just wondering what the different perspectives were on this "hot" issue.

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NJGov

You ask a lot of questions that I don't think even management is prepared to answer. There are a lot of variables in this situation, including:

Who wants to stay? Who will stay?

And the biggest one - when does it go into effect?

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Rocco

I know it was a lot. Complicated....yes. Just wonder what some of the different thoughts were on the issue. Some of the sides taken in the over 60 thread were points I had not considered....

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tone

It will vary depending on the airline of course. Airlines which offer no retirement security will have the desperation of "hungry" 60+year-old pilots who "will fly for food". I believe the big two with a respectable retirement (CO and AA), will see pilots not only leaving at 60, but younger guys running for the door with their money briefcase in hand. Not sure about the cargo carriers, hard to figure out what those guys are thinking. Interesting how the same event will cause a surplus for one airline, while shortage for another. Very exciting times in aviation, I'm curious how this will change the careers of pilots as well as the retirement plans of their families. Big decisions to make.

HSLD

A good point was raised here: Just because you can fly past 60, will you? If you do will it be in the US?

For many pilots who lost an A fund during the ugliness longevity doesn't mean much. Foreign airlines have not hired US over age 60 pilots because the FAA doesn't allow flying past 60 - and that's the required caveat for using your FAA license overseas.

Obviously some over age 60 guys will stay put, but the big unknown is how many will go do something different or just stay home? I think the answer will be to what extent the pot is sweetened for potential US Expats. Every ACMI operator potentially has a HUGE supply of qualified and experienced Captains. Will they show them the money?

SAABaroowski

Great point, HSLD, something I never thought about. Maybe this will cause an exodus of some senior guys, because the 55+ guys could make a killing flying overseas, Emirates, Jet, Cathay,and the list goes on and on...........Though I am speaking quite optimistically, it will be interesting to see.

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