Originally Posted by
Packrat
My age group moved the goal line? You need a lesson in history, Son. ICAO changed the age limit several years before we did. Granted, there were guys (notably SWA pilots) who were lobbying Congress to change. They were mostly guys who lost their A plan retirement due to spurious bankruptcy filings. People who were counting on $100K a year pensions that saw them reduced to PBGC minimums.
What would you do in their shoes?
When it became apparent that the ICAO change was going to be universal (only the U.S., France and a couple banana republics were the only holdouts) Congress was forced to change the American law. Google the Supremacy Clause for the legal reason why.
Can you not understand there was a basic unfairness in the fact that foreign pilots could exercise their pilot license in U.S. airspace over the age of 60 while U.S. pilots could not.
Perhaps you jokers should look past your own self interest and walk a mile in their shoes. You're going to be faced with age mandated retirement eventually. Every one of you studs who claims they're going to retire at Age 60 are blowing smoke. You're the guys who will work until 65. Nothing like a hypocrite.
Lets add a few items to your version of the history lesson.
1. Plenty of FDX guys were involved in the lobbying. There was an ANC Capt. quoted in articles who made numerous trips to DC to augment the SWA effort.
2. What would I have done in their shoes? Here's what I would have done in our management shoes. Not let over 60's go to the 10 and 727 backseat without a bid to wait for the rule change. The seats were overmanned already. Once the rule did change not cancel the entire system bid, instead tell over 60's congrats as seats become available you can bid them. Your age group manipulated the whole process to keep a group on the property and to allow them to rebid any Capt seat they wanted immediately. Huge disruption cost for many and excess bid costs for the company, but not your problem.
3. Age change wasn't a done deal until ALPA leaders (age group again) decided the 'train was leaving the station' and even though most of ALPA members opposed the change 'you'd want us to be at the table for the changes right, so let's just say we support it.' The misrepresented ALPA support is what made the change happen and happen so quickly, at least that's what Sen McCain has stated.
I may work past 60. That's not my issue, its the way the whole thing happened that I have a problem with.