Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan (Post 3433474)

More stringent medical requirements sound like a great idea in your twenties to mid thirties. Sometime in your mid 40s you start thinking, "well let's not go TOO crazy here..."

After all at some point the weight gets a little harder to take off, and the pages get a little blurry unless you wear cheaters, etc...

Getting old is no fun. 65 is plenty. I'll consider myself lucky if I can make it that long.

Originally Posted by AlettaOcean (Post 3432357)

This is making the rounds.

https://raisethepilotage.com/

*****

Dear Senator/Representative:

I am writing today to urge you to support raising the airline pilot retirement age. The airline industry is experiencing a pilot shortage which is forecast to get worse. It is essential that Congress take action to help shore up the industry so that our airlines can continue to provide essential air service to Americans.

My union, ____________________________, did not ask my opinion before taking a position on this matter, but I want you to know how I feel.

As a current airline pilot, safety is and always has been my number one priority. In 2007 when the retirement age changed from 60 to 65 ,we heard many argue that raising the retirement age would detract from safety. It did not. Fifteen years of data prove that those arguments were as invalid then as they are today. The fact is that studies show that pilot incapacitation as a result of age-related medical problems is an extremely rare occurrence.

While some are advocating for a reduction in the qualifications for pilots to solve the problem, science and recent airline accidents clearly indicate such a move would be detrimental to airline safety. The reality is that experienced pilots are the backbone of our safe air transportation system.

As Sully Sullenberger demonstrated, in aviation there is no substitute for experience. The FAA believes that experience is so important that it has now mandated that major airlines establish programs where experienced pilots mentor the airline’s newer pilots.

Raising the pilot retirement age will also help relieve the burden on the Social Security system as I will not need to take benefits for a number of additional years.

As Congress considers solutions for the current pilot shortage, I hope that you will keep these views in mind.

The issue is extremely important to me and to our nation’s air transport system. airline pilot retirement age. Let’s do what’s right for the country.
Thank you for your consideration.

Originally Posted by Sniper66 (Post 3433536)

C2C
cockpit to the casket
congratulations

Originally Posted by 2StgTurbine (Post 3432384)

I have flown with pilots over 65. The people who want to get rid of the 65 age limit aren't even greedy, they just have no life outside of aviation. Even if they are still on their first wife, their family doesn't like them. They might be a jerk, or they might be a dork (the only 2 personality types that are allowed), but in either case, their family wants nothing to do with them. By this point in their life, is too late to repair those relationships. They are passed the point of getting in actual family fights. It's more of an understanding that they are not wanted. When they are around on their days off, everyone is just waiting for them to go back to work, and they know it. That's why they want to keep working. They know they need to get out of the house, but they failed to develop any hobbies.

If you identify with this problem, rather than destroying an industry so you can squeeze another 2 years out of this career, go to your local FBO and get current in small GA planes again. Not only will this get you out of the house, but odds are the student pilots will genuinely be impressed with your stories, unlike the 121 FOs who have heard it all before.

Originally Posted by 2StgTurbine (Post 3432384)

I have flown with pilots over 65. The people who want to get rid of the 65 age limit aren't even greedy, they just have no life outside of aviation. Even if they are still on their first wife, their family doesn't like them. They might be a jerk, or they might be a dork (the only 2 personality types that are allowed), but in either case, their family wants nothing to do with them. By this point in their life, is too late to repair those relationships. They are passed the point of getting in actual family fights. It's more of an understanding that they are not wanted. When they are around on their days off, everyone is just waiting for them to go back to work, and they know it. That's why they want to keep working. They know they need to get out of the house, but they failed to develop any hobbies.

If you identify with this problem, rather than destroying an industry so you can squeeze another 2 years out of this career, go to your local FBO and get current in small GA planes again. Not only will this get you out of the house, but odds are the student pilots will genuinely be impressed with your stories, unlike the 121 FOs who have heard it all before.

Originally Posted by Jk3728 (Post 3433769)

This for sure. The 91 and 135 operators are feeling the squeeze. If you still want (need) to work after 65 go get a corporate job. If you negotiate properly you can make 2k a day as a contract rate on a large cabin biz jet. Like you said they can develop the FOs on those aircraft by sharing their experience. I think pilots sitting right seat in a jet w former 121 Capts will gain much more knowledge and experience then a CFI doing pattern work in a 172.

Originally Posted by Jk3728 (Post 3433769)

This for sure. The 91 and 135 operators are feeling the squeeze. If you still want (need) to work after 65 go get a corporate job. If you negotiate properly you can make 2k a day as a contract rate on a large cabin biz jet. Like you said they can develop the FOs on those aircraft by sharing their experience. I think pilots sitting right seat in a jet w former 121 Capts will gain much more knowledge and experience then a CFI doing pattern work in a 172.