Nevermind the physical? Hmmm...

All one has to do is consider what the actuarial life-expectancy is for those who continue to work beyond age 60 (let alone 65!) in the aerospace industry; it don't take a rocket scientist-type to realize the odds of surviving into one's "golden years" of retirement are abysmal!

From the study I read 3 years ago (think it was based on a 20 year look-back); those who chose to work beyond the age of 60 lost about 1 year of longevity for EACH additional year which they worked...it was about 1.8 years for each year beyond 65! Average life expectancy was roughly 70.8 years for all those contained in the scope of the study...Overall it was a fairly eye-watering read.

Study methodology was to track those receiving a defined-benefit (pension) post retirement from an aerospace job (Boeing, Northrop, Lockheed Raytheon), based on the age at retirement, and simply capture the metrics on how many years and months they continued to receive a retirement check. Study was authored by a BIG brained PHD type who specialized in workplace/actuarial analysis.

Some may argue that this isn't a "pure" methodology due to the demographics of the group being studied, however...the international travel, time zone changes, circadian rhythm disruption, and intense solar radiation exposure are thought to MORE than offset variations between those being studied and a piloting group.

Don't know about you boys...but MANY of the "over 60" crowd whom I've shared a cockpit with are in EXTREMELY poor health. 40-50 pounds overweight, numerous mobility or physical ailments, the INABILITY TO STAY AWAKE ON A 2-3 HOUR LEG! Every leg mind you?! C'mon guys, I'm all about "big picture" stuff if a guy needs a 10 minute power nap, but I've had guys do touch-and-go's on almost every leg on some trips! Not bad guys, don't get me wrong, they simply need to consider what they're doing to themselves, as well as what they're subjecting the traveling public to...truly.

The "Work until death" push has got to be stopped....

Cheers,
Horhay

 

USAPA is not, ALPA is only good a collecting dues. APA would be the one to get it done.

 

These are not UNIONS, look at the names, they are ASSOCIATIONS. You all need to think bigger than yourselves and work for ALL airline pilots. Equal pay for equal work.

 

Why would you want to fly until 65 is beyond me and thinking about flying past 65 is just plain stupid and arrogant. And please don't give me the standard BS excuse how "I just can't afford to retire yet" because you knew 5 years ago that the day will come so at least some planning ahead would be appropriate. Now with that said, pick up your corpse from the left/right seat and move to Florida and enjoy the last few years of your life on a beach watching sunsets.

 

Uhhh not so much.

 

Curious, have you heard this "BS standard excuse" from a lot of pilots?

 

I must say I'm always a little perplexed when I read posts like this; so quick to judge the careers and lives of their peers. I commend you for knowing what you want from life, I would urge you to have the decency to afford others the right to decide what is best for them.

I for one have no idea when I will decide to call it quits...but I am sure I would rather chew tin-foil, shave my head with a cheese-grater and go to work as a WalMart greeter than sit on beach a Cabo for the rest of my days.

 

Yes. Almost every one over 60 I fly with

 

I'll take the beach. Are you from
AR?

 

I respect you! I'm not kidding. I congratulate you on having a life outside of work. I hope to still have one by the time I'm 60 yrs of age.

I know this is 3 weeks late but I had to say it.