Question from a Legacy airline guy. Apologize if this was already discussed. I’ve never seen this issue discussed in these type of threads before.
What Long Term Disabilty benefits are common in the corporate pilot world?
The folllwing are the current LTD benefits at the big 4 airlines.
AA
60% of average monthly compensation for last 12 months or highest calendar year of past five to a max of $8000 per month.
DAL
50% final average earnings No Cap - plus 32% 401K company contribution.
UAL
50% monthly income to a max of $8000.
SWA
66 2/3% of earnings to a max of $18,750 monthly.
All above are are paid tax free to age 65 and pay out if you can’t hold a FAA Class 1 Medical.
Also no restrictions or deductions from benefits if you work anywhere in any other job other then pilot.
At United we start negotiations early soon with a joint goal between union and management of reaching a deal by our current contract amendable date of Jan 19. I would hope we would match DAL’s if not at least reach SWA’s LTD program.
Most of us want to fly to retirement age, but unfortunately we all know a percentage of pilots Medical out. What protections do corporate pilots have in this regard?
Lastly, in the airline world (for those of us with a union & contract - most) you can’t be terminated without “just cause” with a union and contract. Without union protection it’s hire and fire at will. Unless you can prove some sort of illegal discrimination. You could legally be fired for anything other then illegal discrimination. That can be difficult standard to prove and that’s the employeees responsibility. In a union, while you can be fired it’s a very difficult standard and if you are fired your guaranteed binding arbitration in which you have a good chance of getting your job back with back pay.
Not attempting to brag just trying to bring forth important considerations (especially for young pilots that have 30 plus years of career flying ahead of them.) Maybe This doesn’t seem like an important consideration to the younger guys who really don’t think about these as much as us older guys in there 40’s, 50’s and even early 60’s.
Last edited by Boeing Aviator; 11-18-2017 at 06:07 PM.