But isn't it really about discrimination :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

OV1D, what day in December do you turn 60?
Have you started to make plans for after retirement? Any job offers?

[QUOTE=OV1D;77883]Well, looks like VA went DEM. OV1D, I'd start planning your retirement party if I were you. Bye Bye.

12/11/2006

What airline?

I'd like to be in the gate area when he arrives :D

If they allow pilots to fly past age 60, they'll have to install lavs INSIDE the cockpit!!

Boeing already do.

All our B747-400's have one on the flight deck, as well as a private cabin for flight crew rest, which contains two full size bunks.

They don't call it the en-suite fleet for nothing! :)

Imagine if sports teams were required to keep a bunch of old players past their prime, because hey it isnt fair that just because they are getting older doenst mean they should be able to play anymore. I am not 60 so I cant really answer for this but maybe one of the older guys can. Are you still in your prime honestly? I am not posting this to spite, I really want to know.

They are legends in their own minds.

I think age sixty for some is healthy while others have one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel. I've met sixty year olds that still run or walk several miles, swim, and lift weights and I've seen sixty year olds on those hob-around things (or whatever they are called). Your health is just like your 401k. Start early! You can start taking care of yourself at 55, but you will not be in great shape like someone that has golfed twice weekly or ran since his 20's.

If this thing does pass I think it's definitely in the interest of safety to create more stringent, mandatory tests. None of my father's siblings, except two, made it past sixty and one of those had open heart surgery. On my mother's side, however, I have some family members that still work their farms well into their 70's and I feel they 'still have it.' George Foreman, Cal Ripken, and Ricky Hendersen are examples of those that 'still have it' well past their "primes" and have not, in my opinion, suffered any cognitive losses or degeneration. I do know a former boxer that was 62, looked to be in great shape, but had a heart
attack while doing a stress test! He later told me the line went flat and he said to himself, "That aint right!"

I don't think it's a safety issue @ all ... I think it's a pure economics and seniority issue. It should be simple, but I can't figure out if age 65 would help or hurt me. I've been on the streets this long and as far as my future, age 65 will only make it longer for me to make captain which I hopefully will have five years to make up for later. Now for the guys at United and AA, it will definitely hurt them. I don't know what to think. I haven't decided yet if I'm yeah or nay. I've heard all the C.R. Smith arguments and all the inputs from all sides. I just don't know what to think.

I know an old Delta Captain that flew whales. He was a fixture at my local FBO. He retired early from Delta "In protest" when they retired the 747's , but he regrets it now because he still misses it. He flies when he gets a chance, but I think it's safe to say a lot of us are going to miss this job when we can no longer do it. That former captain was in his 80's when I last saw him preflighting his piper.

I haven't said anything new with my post ... simple rehash of what others have said here and there, but it's my right. I think OV1 was dealt a not to abbrasive raw-deal when his company was forced to change to 121 from 135. He's prior military and you guys being former military know how the promotion system works. The needs of the Service dictates the points. If the Army needs more Sergeants they lower the points. If they have to many Sergeants, they raise the points so high even Einstein wouldn't have enough. I don't know who sets the points, but the Army keeps rolling along ... Whatever happens
OV1, good luck.

J