ALPA: Raise The Age Doublespeak
10-20-2025 | 01:44 PM
#1
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From: WB Cpt
ALPA: Raise The Age Doublespeak
https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/10/13/...pilot-age-cap/
I was perplexed when ALPA focused on representing small carriers that fly mostly turboprops and cargo ships into the "Outback of Canada." What interests do they have with the core of ALPA in the U.S., that pretty much fly jets from pavement to pavement and have thousands of pilots? I'm not saying WestJet is a hayseed, dirt strip operation, but they are are small compared to ALPA foundational carriers. As ALPA's current activities suggest (link above), our union is not hesitant to play both sides of an issue, depending on circumstances.
ALPA in 2007: “Tacking on another five years of flying is good because ICAO says so. Should we ask the members how they feel? Nah. John Prater knows what they think."
ALPA since the age went to 65 and into 2025: “Two additional years would be dangerous, and all our members who we don’t bother polling think age 65 is the way to go.”
ALPA now: “44 pilots at a little Canadian airline may have to cease flying at 65. It’s a travesty we won’t stand for!”
Huh?
I was perplexed when ALPA focused on representing small carriers that fly mostly turboprops and cargo ships into the "Outback of Canada." What interests do they have with the core of ALPA in the U.S., that pretty much fly jets from pavement to pavement and have thousands of pilots? I'm not saying WestJet is a hayseed, dirt strip operation, but they are are small compared to ALPA foundational carriers. As ALPA's current activities suggest (link above), our union is not hesitant to play both sides of an issue, depending on circumstances.
ALPA in 2007: “Tacking on another five years of flying is good because ICAO says so. Should we ask the members how they feel? Nah. John Prater knows what they think."
ALPA since the age went to 65 and into 2025: “Two additional years would be dangerous, and all our members who we don’t bother polling think age 65 is the way to go.”
ALPA now: “44 pilots at a little Canadian airline may have to cease flying at 65. It’s a travesty we won’t stand for!”
Huh?
10-20-2025 | 03:33 PM
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https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/10/13/...pilot-age-cap/
I was perplexed when ALPA focused on representing small carriers that fly mostly turboprops and cargo ships into the "Outback of Canada." What interests do they have with the core of ALPA in the U.S., that pretty much fly jets from pavement to pavement and have thousands of pilots? I'm not saying WestJet is a hayseed, dirt strip operation, but they are are small compared to ALPA foundational carriers. As ALPA's current activities suggest (link above), our union is not hesitant to play both sides of an issue, depending on circumstances.
ALPA in 2007: “Tacking on another five years of flying is good because ICAO says so. Should we ask the members how they feel? Nah. John Prater knows what they think."
ALPA since the age went to 65 and into 2025: “Two additional years would be dangerous, and all our members who we don’t bother polling think age 65 is the way to go.”
ALPA now: “44 pilots at a little Canadian airline may have to cease flying at 65. It’s a travesty we won’t stand for!”
Huh?
I was perplexed when ALPA focused on representing small carriers that fly mostly turboprops and cargo ships into the "Outback of Canada." What interests do they have with the core of ALPA in the U.S., that pretty much fly jets from pavement to pavement and have thousands of pilots? I'm not saying WestJet is a hayseed, dirt strip operation, but they are are small compared to ALPA foundational carriers. As ALPA's current activities suggest (link above), our union is not hesitant to play both sides of an issue, depending on circumstances.
ALPA in 2007: “Tacking on another five years of flying is good because ICAO says so. Should we ask the members how they feel? Nah. John Prater knows what they think."
ALPA since the age went to 65 and into 2025: “Two additional years would be dangerous, and all our members who we don’t bother polling think age 65 is the way to go.”
ALPA now: “44 pilots at a little Canadian airline may have to cease flying at 65. It’s a travesty we won’t stand for!”
Huh?
ALPA recommends keeping the retirement age at 65.
Westjet's CBA allows for age 67, just as ours binds us to the FAA's mandatory retirement age. Hence why ALPA would be fighting for it in that particular case. They filed a grievance, which means they are accusing Westjet of violating the CBA. Plain and simple.
10-21-2025 | 05:45 AM
#3
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https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/10/13/...pilot-age-cap/
I was perplexed when ALPA focused on representing small carriers that fly mostly turboprops and cargo ships into the "Outback of Canada." What interests do they have with the core of ALPA in the U.S., that pretty much fly jets from pavement to pavement and have thousands of pilots? I'm not saying WestJet is a hayseed, dirt strip operation, but they are are small compared to ALPA foundational carriers. As ALPA's current activities suggest (link above), our union is not hesitant to play both sides of an issue, depending on circumstances.
ALPA in 2007: “Tacking on another five years of flying is good because ICAO says so. Should we ask the members how they feel? Nah. John Prater knows what they think."
ALPA since the age went to 65 and into 2025: “Two additional years would be dangerous, and all our members who we don’t bother polling think age 65 is the way to go.”
ALPA now: “44 pilots at a little Canadian airline may have to cease flying at 65. It’s a travesty we won’t stand for!”
Huh?
I was perplexed when ALPA focused on representing small carriers that fly mostly turboprops and cargo ships into the "Outback of Canada." What interests do they have with the core of ALPA in the U.S., that pretty much fly jets from pavement to pavement and have thousands of pilots? I'm not saying WestJet is a hayseed, dirt strip operation, but they are are small compared to ALPA foundational carriers. As ALPA's current activities suggest (link above), our union is not hesitant to play both sides of an issue, depending on circumstances.
ALPA in 2007: “Tacking on another five years of flying is good because ICAO says so. Should we ask the members how they feel? Nah. John Prater knows what they think."
ALPA since the age went to 65 and into 2025: “Two additional years would be dangerous, and all our members who we don’t bother polling think age 65 is the way to go.”
ALPA now: “44 pilots at a little Canadian airline may have to cease flying at 65. It’s a travesty we won’t stand for!”
Huh?
Edit: makes even more sense now, protecting their CBA, 100% agree.
10-21-2025 | 06:17 AM
#4
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Westjet pilots, currently flying under another country's rules, who actually expected to have until 67, are being suddenly terminated on a month's notice... That's not the same thing as US pilots who have known for 18 years they can't work past 65.
I don't see the problem here. ALPA is representing the pilots they currently have under the current rules of the country in which they work. IMO, only someone grasping at a reason to be outraged would blow that up into a reason to hate ALPA.
There are a few decent arguments to want to raise the age, this is not one of them.
I don't see the problem here. ALPA is representing the pilots they currently have under the current rules of the country in which they work. IMO, only someone grasping at a reason to be outraged would blow that up into a reason to hate ALPA.
There are a few decent arguments to want to raise the age, this is not one of them.
10-21-2025 | 07:33 AM
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From: WB Cpt
Westjet pilots, currently flying under another country's rules, who actually expected to have until 67, are being suddenly terminated on a month's notice... That's not the same thing as US pilots who have known for 18 years they can't work past 65.
I don't see the problem here. ALPA is representing the pilots they currently have under the current rules of the country in which they work. IMO, only someone grasping at a reason to be outraged would blow that up into a reason to hate ALPA.
There are a few decent arguments to want to raise the age, this is not one of them.
I don't see the problem here. ALPA is representing the pilots they currently have under the current rules of the country in which they work. IMO, only someone grasping at a reason to be outraged would blow that up into a reason to hate ALPA.
There are a few decent arguments to want to raise the age, this is not one of them.
10-21-2025 | 07:48 AM
#6
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From: 787 FO
Unions have a legal obligation called the duty of fair representation to zealously defend every pilot they represent. ALPA is structured so individual MECs have a great deal of autonomy to craft their representation of their pilots according to their group's desires and within their country's legal framework. That is how ALPA can effectively represent a variety of pilot groups, but it is up to each pilot group and their pilots ultimately.
10-21-2025 | 07:52 AM
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Fair enough. I had no knowledge of the WJA CBA details when I posted. Still, looking at the surface, the situation appears to be steeped in hypocrisy. Never said I hate ALPA. But there have been plenty of times that I have disliked what they are up to. Sounds like ALPA is taking care of one microcosm of membership, as those dues-paying members would expect.
It is impossible to meet every need of every pilot. This issue is the exact same. Overall, I feel well represented and supported by ALPA. It’s hard to believe some want to burn it to the ground over a single issue. I don’t agree on every issue, but I won’t cut my nose off to spite my face. I am not saying you are, but a lot of the rhetoric that comes from the pro-67 group is just downright anti-union.
10-21-2025 | 09:39 AM
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Fair enough. I had no knowledge of the WJA CBA details when I posted. Still, looking at the surface, the situation appears to be steeped in hypocrisy. Never said I hate ALPA. But there have been plenty of times that I have disliked what they are up to. Sounds like ALPA is taking care of one microcosm of membership, as those dues-paying members would expect.
10-21-2025 | 10:56 AM
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Fair enough. I had no knowledge of the WJA CBA details when I posted. Still, looking at the surface, the situation appears to be steeped in hypocrisy. Never said I hate ALPA. But there have been plenty of times that I have disliked what they are up to. Sounds like ALPA is taking care of one microcosm of membership, as those dues-paying members would expect.
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