Mandatory retirement?
 

Am I correctly reading the draft 2023 omnibus spending bill language, which I think allows certain large 91k operators the option to institute mandatory retirement at age 70 after the operator gives 1 year's notice to the FAA?

Go to page 2000 of the bill (https://www.appropriations.senate.go.../JRQ121922.PDF). The age 70 language seems to apply only to 91k operators who "performed an aggregate total of at 2 least 75,000 turbojet operations in calendar 3 year 2019 or any subsequent year."

Basically, NetJets and maybe Flex?

Do they currently have a retirement age?

Currently no retirement age and I believe we have a couple 80 year old pilots on the list. No idea if they’re flying or on a medical, but they are still here.

If no amendment removes the provision, you are correct. If signed as is, the provision may be activated one year after notice by the employer is issued to the FAA. Once implemented, it cannot be rescinded. Netjets has already indicated they would provide notice to implement to the FAA immediately.

No, Jetlaggy. Currently there is no mandatory retirement age under Part 91, 91K, or 135. In the past, Netjets has had pilots on the seniority list over the age of 80. There are approximately 100 over the age of 70 right now and somewhere around 300-350 over the age of 65.

And even as someone rapidly approaching fossil age, in my view this is LONG overdue.

The company thinks they will finally get it this time after who knows how much they have spent lobbying for this over the last 5+ years. I don't have a huge problem with age 70, but I do hope it fails until it is applied to all non personal 91 flying. All the charters and managed and flight departments should follow the same set of rules.

In my view, it should apply to any operation that holds out to the public, to include Parts 91K and 135. If Joe Moneybags wants his private, Part 91 Gulfstream crewed by an older sort, that's his business. But if I paid to be in back of a charter or fractional jet and had no say in who's up front, that operator owes me a higher level of care.

The sooner, the better.

Why would NJ want to implement this age 70 thing immediately, wouldn’t that cause a bigger pilot shortage if there’s 100 pilots over 70?

Or are a lot of those over 70 pilots already out on disability? What type of disability plan does NJ offer?

It is actually pretty genius. NJA can capture airline retirees who still want to fly, and keep them for 5 years. You dump them before their salaries get too high and most of them won't last long anyway given how much more work it is than they are used to. I think 70 is too high anyway but this is a good start and long overdue.

The company wants a mandatory retirement for lots of reasons. Cutting off the partially paid medical leave of older pilots with no intention of returning is one of them. Netjets also self-insures medical coverage and older pilots (and their older spouses) incur higher medical costs overall. And the company would be more than happy to replace a 70 year old, 20 year pilot making $250K+ with a newbie making $90K.