Originally Posted by
PKCO
Perhaps the "straight mil retirees and career changers" have a better work ethic than most of the 'you-owe-me crowd of today' and this is the reason the regionals - fractionals - 135's etc prefer them.
As a career Police Officer, retiring in 3 months, I am looking forward to the view of DFW, or MCO or JFK etc from climb-out as opposed to cutting down a 20 year-old who just hung himself, or a 55 year-old wife who can't leave an abusive relationship. (the incidents are endless) I prefer to work for an organization concerned for their repective bottom lines, after-all, those will be the ones left standing when the music stops.
I would never presume to bad mouth my chosen career as some have done here regarding aviation. Law Enforcement, like aviation, like accounting, like basket weaving all have their respective ups and downs. How presumptious it would be for me to discourage an otherwise capable applicant because I made bad career choices. Shame on you. You know who you are.
I would not say that the airlines "prefer" to hire retirees however they tend to be happier at work and complain less. I would have been happier as a regional pilot if I could have been able to support my family to a reasonable degree. However I was always stressed about how I was going to make my american dream come true on 18K per year.
People of retirement age are in a different time in their lives. They do not have college tuition's to fund or a spouse who needs your help at home raising small kids. They can go home and sleep after a long trip and do not have a family at home who needs their attention. A retirement pilot only has to enjoy their job and little else. The money they get on top of their retirement is mostly only needed for green fees. They are past most of the financial hurdles and external life demands that someone starting out faces.
The differing needs and perspectives make it much easier to accept the low wages and difficult working situation being offered. It has nothing to do with a work ethic. Hopefully in a few years I can return to aviation as a retirement job as well. The career is much more palatable under those conditions.
Skyhigh