I just retired from the FAA May 25th. When I got hired the max age was 31. The retirement is 20 years at age 50 or 25 years at any age. The max age to control is 56. It was 31 plus 25 equals 56 thus the reason for the age 31. It has changed so much over the years. I retired the day I was eligible because it was a miserable place to work. The management sux big time (I call it the cess pool theory. The Terds float to the top.) If you think airline management is bad you need to see the clowns that run the FAA (I've worked in the airline industry also.) Pay has been cut big time for the new hires. Medical benefits aren't that great and they changed the retirement to a new retirement right after I hired on in 82. Luckily, I am under the old retirement system (CSRS.) The new retirement systems depends a lot on Social Security if that tells you anything. Also there is no mandate for excellence. The FAA is mediocrity at its finest. Their version of productivity is take the work of 2 people, have 4 people do it and claim an increase in productivity. The FAA is becoming just like the airlines when it comes to pay and benefits. I have noticed over the years the employees that never complained and bent over backwards to help management out are becoming extremely rare and few and far between these days. Even these employees are disgruntled. If you want to become a controller, knock yourself out but let me warn you, when the new wears off the odds are great you will be miserable. Oh and for the record, Pushing Tin was one of the stupidest movies I have ever seen. The only thing that was accurate was the phraseology.