tomgoodman

And back when the limit was 60, lots of people said they were leaving at 57 or so, but they almost never did. I think it’s just a more emphatic way to beef about the job, with little risk.

MiLa

I don’t blame guys who stay as long as they can. At the top of the seniority list and with tons of sick/vacation time, this becomes about be highest paying part time job there is. If you’re a widebody captain with a lot of sick/vacation time, you can probably work it to fly around 2 trips/month...

rickair7777

Yeah, for many of those guys it's more of a hobby. Why retire and pay to fly your own light twin when you can fly the company not-so-light twin, when you feel like it and get paid hundreds of grand to do it.

The few 60+ guys I've flown with give the impression they could hang it up any time they felt the urge.

Sliceback

I do. Guy retiring within six months. Has a corporate job lined up. Not my cup of tea.

But staying here past 65? The value of staying is over $600,000 a year for a G4 Captain (pay, retirement savings growth, medical<minor in the big picture).

If you're senior enough you can drop to 8 months of a trip a month, and four months of 3 trips a month, would generate $140-160K a year for a G4 CA. G4 FO would be $100-110K. Add in 401K payments and you're doing ok. The downside is you're not earning your A fund. For the more senior guys that's a significant amount ($30-50K), for the junior guys it's less of a loss.

The guy getting the corporate job might do it in a heartbeat. Who knows how many of them exist? IDK. For others it wouldn't matter and they'd retire regardless and for some it might be a month by month, or even day by day, decision.

TransWorld

The phone conversation eavesdropped:

This is Captain G4XYZ, I am calling in sick for flight 1 today JFK to LHR.

Okay, sorry you are sick. Any idea when you will be well enough to fly?

Never.

Sounds serious. You need me to cancel the rest of your flights?

Yes, I am sick of flying as an airline pilot. Just came over me when I got up today. Send the retirement papers to my house.

Hmmmm...

Packrat

Airline flying is a GREAT post-retirement job.

captjns

Post Retiremnent CFR 125 flying is even greater

Andy

Depending on the airline, you can fly 2 trips a month without using any sick leave, earning >80 credit hours. I've done that.

Andy

Why retire when there's long term disability? And that's a big reason why the airlines are going to balk at further age increases.

rickair7777

That's a very good point. Above age 60, it gets easier every day to qualify for LTD. Subjective conditions which would not be plausible at age 30 are more or less expected by age 60+