Uh, wasn't this regulatory change years in the making? I know there was time for ALPA to poll the pilots and to have time to come down on both sides of the issue, anyway. You know, they were against it right up until they were for it.

ALPA pretty much changed it's position on the issue post 9/11 when everyone's pensions were destroyed in bankruptcy and it looked like a lot of old farts needed to work 5 more years to have some kind of retirement. I actually think this made a whole lot of sense.