A hypothetical medical exam/fitness exam for surgeons would be quite different than ours.

Probably need to focus just on hand/eye coordination and cog.

Vision, hearing would matter little unless you're seriously blind (they use magnifying equipment for fine work any way).

Even risk for sudden incap wouldn't matter much, not like the whole OR is going to crash if the surgeon faints. They can just bring in another one to close it up. If it's something complex there will be more than one anyway.

I'm not sure you need any such exam for office practitioners, many or most specialties have to recertify anyway... if a doc is suffering from dementia, that should be apparent.

No University program is going to finish you 0 to hero in 6 months to year…….

That's the point nor the argument. We are discussing vocational flight training and university flight training and their GI Bill payments.

If the revenue from the flights that the 65-67 year old produces is more than the cost of his salary and benefits. This only applies if you can't cover the flight with another crew.

So you are putting them on Reserve at min guarantee?
:D

That is “Ageism”. You’re an “Ageist”.

You keep using those words like anyone cares.

I think for most pilots, the value in staying until age 67 is the chance to stay on LTD for an extra 2 years before you're forced to retire. Sure, there are probably some guys out there that flying is all they have, and they love to do it, but I think the majority at that age have no desire to continue the lifestyle.

When I look at the seniority lists for my airline's bases, many of the top guys in each aircraft/seat are on LTD. I'm sure it's like this at your shop, too. If they are unlikely to get their medical back, and already in their late 50s-early 60s, I myself would be tempted to ride it out while living on the generous LTD package. Then come 65 (or 67), and boom, get SS and Medicare. This may sound selfish to some, but those extra 2 years living off that LTD would be very nice to you, too. Although this is probably why airlines aren't supportive of Age 67, either.

It's not terribly unreasonable to want to work to full SS, although I'm not sure the extra two years makes that much difference when you compare the SS scale vs airline CA scale.

Yes the airlines see it as a way to pay a lot of money to have a few guys work an extra two years, and a lot of guys not work an extra two years. They're probably right.

What happens to their insurance premiums?

Honestly don't know. Once they slip up and kill/maim a couple of patients, I imagine they become uninsurable and it works itself out for everyone. (except the patient(s))

Unlike airmen and their planes. Crash one airplane and everyone is like "OMG!!"


Insurance companies rule the world. I've no doubt most hospitals force the olds to retire by revoking various privileges, including insurance premiums.