it's not just "kids" who work for $20k a year. besides, if you're a professional pilot, i bet you've worked for peanuts once or twice.

By and large, yes it is "kids". Any regional new hire class will typically be much more weighted to those in their 20's as opposed to those of more advanced age.

Yes, I've worked for $19.25/hour. What's the point?

You know exactly what my point is. Its the insulting attitude that "kids" work for nothing and effectively anchor low pay.

In my indoc class, I was the second the third youngest at 27. The average was well into the those advanced ages.

Age 70 will actually not be a big factor, even in the unlikely event it comes to pass. Few pilots would even want to work anywhere near 70, and even fewer could pass the medical and sim.

That's what folks said about 65.

70 would be nuts, most people i tell are unaware of 65 and are surprised to know pilots can fly to that age. I can live with someone 65 up there, but 70 is too much for my comfort.

I don't think 1500 rule will hold. Majors haven't even announce hiring and regional are starting to run thin on applicants. What will happen when majors start pulling pilots from the regional level? Delta will be on a steady pace of 500 new hires a year going forward along with US Air and others. At the pace of the major's projected numbers I feel you will see a shortage at the regional level. No way 1500 will hold up. If you think this spring was crazy you haven't see nothing yet.

If you are willing to live in the Middle East or China things are pretty bright, ALPA has said this is the biggest threat to the livelihood of American pilots. Airlines from these countries are buying twice the amount of airplanes they really need in hopes of capturing the North American international markets.

Given the crap-tastic job the U.S. airlines do as providing customer service and value, who can be surprised.

Not me. Since ICAO was already doing it, it was a forgone conclusion. I'm actually OK with 65. Unless you want to get into VERY complex, invasive, and expensive medical/cognitive testing then you have to draw an arbitrary line somewhere. I think 60 is a little to low and 70 is too high.