badflaps

Most of the guys at the "top" that I knew, were unhappy, some bench mark...

crewdawg

I'll admit, I'm fairly ignorant on the subject. But is there a punishment for retiring before 65? As a younger new hire, I agree, there really shouldn't be a mandatory age. But personally, my goal is to retire sooner than later. Although, I can see why dudes at the top stay...they're practically part time and roll in a lot of cash. I'm sure it's hard to give up.

All this talk about no max limit/age discrimination, I have heard very little about the age 23 requirement! Why is this arbitrary age set for ATP requirements?

BenderRodriguez

Everybody says they want to retire early. Everybody. But when it really comes down to cutting the cord, it's hard to give up something that has occupied the better part of your adult life. So that's why old guys stay. Having the goal of being able to retire early is still a very worthy one, and being in a position to do so is very very smart. Then you have the luxury to be able to go part time and enjoy what seniority you have without having to work for the mortgage. Face it, being senior can be a really great part time gig.

The only punishment for "retiring" early is self induced. If you blow your investments and marry 6 times before you "retire", well yeah I guess you could screw it up but again it's self inflicted. With the way our 401k is set up now it is practically idiot proof, but pilots are pilots after all, and I don't take investment advice from any of them.

And you are right about the age 23 thing, but I think that has more to do with a guesstimated timeframe to get one's tickets punched.

TenYearsGone

This is correct.

Today, I see most pilots are in shape as compared to the past. I remember when I was 27, plumbing on the three-holer, I would look at that 57 year old Captain and think to myself how old and out of shape he/she was. Currently, I fly with 63 year olds that look younger than me

In all fairness, maybe my opinion is faulted, if you want to fly past 65, then you should have the option to fly but as a new hire FO except with all of your benefits and pay in tact. I think this would be fair because career stagnation would be avoided and the aviator junkie can do what he or she wants, albeit not at the top of the list anymore. Maybe a line share or something too.

I know I am missing something but at a glance this would be a good solution to many needs.

TEN

AllenAllert

This was done with the over 60 guys coming back as engineers on the the 3 crew airplanes. You'll never see that. What we will likely see is a complete elimination of the age restriction and move all pilots to more restrictive medical and mental standards.

Sliceback

Everyone talks about retiring early? Over generalization and not supported by the fact that about 50% have always worked to normal retirement.

"Talk is cheap." It sounds cool to say you're leaving early. You get bro points for that. The herd doesn't give bro points for saying you'll ride this pony until it dies under you.

Herkflyr

Truer words have rarely been spoken. For some reason it is perceived as "cool" to say "I'm just doing this job as a hobby, I can't wait to retire at 55, why would anyone want to stay, blah blah blah" but when it comes time to actually put that into action, very few actually do. They then realize that this is actually a pretty cool, enjoyable job.

THAT said, it is important to have interests and passions beyond just flying. Those that don't have any are the ones who die within a couple of years of retirement.

Sputnik

While also completely destroying the seniority system

Superdad

I say if you want to fly until you die, so be it. However, at 65 you must go back to the right seat and back to the bottom of the list. For everything. When I show up at the airport with my family to non rev you're not getting on before me. You had your career with a guarantee of upward movement based on a fixed retirement age, now it's my turn.

Flyinhigh

How about we give everyone a chance for the top of the seniority list? If you have had 10 or 15 years in the top 15% you have to go back to the bottom of the list in the right seat. That would make it fair for the guys that got to the party late in life. You know, everybody gets a trophy no matter how you played the game.