The big purple gorilla in the room is this: If our profession had no mandatory retirement age we wouldn't be able to "value" the career or the career path. just continuing to fly until someone says you can't walk, talk and chew gum at the same times will do some strange things to the actuary tables for the LTD plan and will certainly confuse pilot's retirement plans and options.

For example. If I planned to retire at age 70, would I be permitted to start withdrawing my retirement fund at age 60? I would like to have some fun and "live a little" on the money I had saved for my golden years. After age 70, I don't see too many folks having a grand time, so better to spend it/use it while you can.

LTD/Retirement? I think those are two big items that the company and ALPA don't want to play games with.


I don't call it age discrimination. I call it retirement. Many careers have a cap. The US Armed forces only give you 30 years. Different careers have some sort of limit. Even the age discrimination act has a sunset of age 70. You can't discriminate against a 68 year old, but you can against a 70 year old..... Go figure. ATC controllers is 56 with a waiver to 61. Police and Fire, age 57.