amazing.. you are actually trading blows with someone you apparently hate... glad you had the opportunity to never have to be a newbie in the airline industry.. enjoy that lear, must be quite difficult with Uncle George turned on all the time... can you even fly a piston single anymore with your extreme level of expertise?

 

I have one question for some pilots on hear. Why is it that when you talk to people in other industries one of the big topics I hear is that they are planning early retirement but when you talk to an older pilot all they complain about is that they have to retire at age 60. what do you think the numbers would be if you asked a large random group of Americans if they would vote for a rule dropping the retirement age to 60. I would guess somewhere around the 90 percentile would say yes. Just my thoughts though. Why do pilots complain about early retirement, maybe they have nothing else to complain about.

 

Maybe we like what we do.

 

Hey blue,
28 hour non stops are military flights with 3 air refuelings. Flew one with a pilot that was 57. Those flights suck. West bound from US to Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean. I agree with you on a "peak" age. There is no good way to determine it. And just because you are not at your peak does not mean you are not still skilled. Just making the point that money aside the age 60 rule is a safety issue for the majority...certainly not all.

 

What you have to realize is that after a full career of being an airline pilot guys who are nearing 60 normally have no home, friends, family or hobbies left to retire to. Who are they going to scream at after they retire? Who will take them seriously or care about what they have to say unless they have the four stripes on? What kind of life is there for retired airline pilots who have developed obsessive compulsive disorders and have become socially inept due to the command system? Lets not forget the raided retirement accounts and decades of multiple alimony and child support payments. After a lifetime of these kinds of assaults these guys are unable to function outside of the left seat anymore. Perhaps it would be more humane to let them work till they drop?

Randal is an excellent example of a 60 year old airline pilot; Lost in his own world, completely self absorbed, prepared to sacrifice all else in pursuit of his wants. Totally unconcerned about the consequences of his actions upon others. Just how is he supposed to integrate back into the real world?


SkyHigh

 

Now I understand what the problem is, poor planning. Quiet surprising considering the older pilots try and tell us younger pilots how we are doing it all wrong. hmm ironic.

 

SkyHigh, if you meant this as a joke - it was funny! I hope you did!

 

As usual Skyhigh speaks from not his mouth but from his A$$.

Most pilots do not want to work past 60........they have to!

With the industry in turmoil and pensions being wiped out...................
What choice do many Pilots have. They were counting on a comfortable Pension....no make that they earned a comfortable pension for 20 plus years only to have it taken away. Now they must work past 60 to have a cromfortable life.

Also most of us in this industry have been forced to switch Airlines once or twice.......... or thrice.

When a Pilot switches airlines he goes to the bottom of the list with his/her new airline/ (translated to bottom pay scale)

Most of our pension plans are formualted on earning levels. i.e. W-2's.
Companies that Formerly had A-plans (Defined Benefits) where you recieve a monthly check from the company after you retire. But if that company Lays you off or goes bankrupt or Liquidates..........That pilot receives little or NO pension. Then that Pilot must start over at a new airline and his retirement benefits start from Zero................................

Many Pension plans require a Pilot to be actively working for 5-7 years before they are vested (are qualified to receive anything at retirement. Most Older plans the pilot must actively work for 25 years to MAX out his retirement.
The trend in the Industry now is to shift to Defind Contribution Plans.401K's and B-plans. Many are self funded accounts with some Company matching...............a far cry from what they once were.

A few who post on this Forum are no longer Airline Pilots. A certain individual who posts quite often never made it far enough in the industry to speak from experience.

 

Sky high is an excellent example of a 38 year old wannebe airline pilot; Lost in his own world, completley self absorbed, Un-prepared to sacrifice anything in pursuit of a flying career. Totally unexperienced and yet likes to pretend he is an expert in the Life a of Major Airline Pilot.

 

Redeye, now that's funny. I laughed so hard that it hurt!