Age 67
 

From Alpa..
https://alpa.quorum.us/campaign/46334/

Or don’t if you believe in having a choice and don’t believe in age discrimination.

Oh man, ain't no one gonna like you now!

No one likes me anyway!

But seriously. All y’all thinking this is a bad idea because you’re only thinking about you TODAY. I know all the young’uns think they won’t be older and still needing/wanting to work then, but statistically the retirement age and the age that people can retire keeps going up, especially when government keeps getting voted into office that wants to keep giving away the money you earn to those that don’t work for it.

Do I want/plan to work last age 65, NO. Might not even work that long. But I still think if you’re able to it should be YOUR choice, not some arbitrary number. And yes, age 65 is still arbitrary. Just as arbitrary as when the AIRLINES decided that it should be age 60.

Plenty of flying jobs for 65 and older out there. Just not part 121.

haha, yeah, I do think the doom and gloom over age 67 is a bit overstated. Everyone compares it to the change to age 65 but it's very different today. Many guys back then had to hang on as long as possible because they were trying to fix the retirement portfolio right after the pensions were taken away and we just don't have that situation today so we're going to see a larger % of people choosing to retire before they're forced to. Also, the age 65 to 67 is quite different than the age from 60 to 65. Someone said somewhere that 40% of the pilot's aged 64 are on LTD. That % would only be higher at 65 and 66. Also a higher % of people will choose to retire at 65 rather than 60. And we're talking about 2 years, not 5. All those factors and a big retirement wave, I just don't think we'll feel much of an effect. BUT some guys will have the choice to work longer and some people will collect LTD for a couple more years.

Now everyone can hate me too!

then you should take advantage of your prospects now

See, funny how facts, reality and pragmatism change the “truth”.

But why would someone make that change when they are at the highest earning of their career?

Exactly! But I think the argument put forth is age discrimination and solving the regional captain shortage. If I remember right when they raised it to 65 in 2007, Southwest let some guys come back, but at the bottom of the list. I don't think many stuck around for more then 6 months because it sucks being reserve at the bottom of the list with 5 years of no movement.

Guessing here, but I suspect the % of people at 65 that can pass 1st class medicals for 2 more years is much lower than the % of people who could pass 1st class medicals at age 60 until 65.

I suspect we left a lot of reasonably healthy talent on the ramp when they hit age 60, there won't be as much at 65.

It's just not the sky is falling situation as some will make it out to be.

You have any numbers on that, even a swag?

My swag: About 60-70% could hold a medical to 67. Assuming they wanted to, vice going out or staying out on LTD.

Maybe half of those would care to do so. A lot less than half if you have to downgrade from international WB flying to stay, which is the case with current ICAO rules. That rule might change quickly if the US went to 67, since we probably account for close to half of the world's airline pilots.

Rick, That is what I thought. I always used a SWAG of 50% overall.

I’ve anecdotally thought the number is probably closer to 50%. Or at least those who can still hold a medical and choose to continue working. But obviously there are plenty who fly part 91 and 135. I can’t find the quotes, but I know there are references to CEOs being against the increase because of the number of older pilots on LTD.

I think Net Jets has something like 10% of its pilots over 65. But those numbers are skewed AGAINST 121, since that’s where those who can still fly go.

I left Intl W/B at 65 in the middle of the Covid craziness, and was glad to put it all behind me. Two years later, I am more fit than I’ve been in a decade. (always ways disciplined about diet and fitness)

Got the offer from United to fly the RJ and turned it down, due to my being soured on the whole industry. Flew some 91 corp jet, part time.

I wouldn’t go back to the grind of a full time schedule again, but would do some kind of part time flying like ferries, test flights, deliveries etc. I’ll be 68 in a few months.

Once you figure out the retirement finances and get used to NOT answering to someone else’s schedule, there’s not much desire to go back. Think about how it feels at the end of a two or three week vacation.

Probably 80% of my retired friends feel the same way.