Is that $130k per year (or the lump-sum equivalent) in the pilot's own name and held by an insured outside financial institution, or just a debt owed to him by the airline? If the former, then retirement would be safe and sensible. If the latter, some pilots may be reluctant to count on it, after what happened at major pax carriers (many of which were also financially sound a few years ago). Once you retire, you can't come back, even if your pension is slashed.