If you're on here and posting about how big it is or most likely how you think it is, your career expectations aren't even close to where they should be.

The gummers who weaseled out another 5 years at the expense of those behind them have sucked the very lifeblood out of everything we had grown up striving for. Whether you took the 10 year route CFII'ing, flying checks, etc. or deployed to the *worst* ends of the earth in the military, once we finally made it to the big leagues, we come to the heartbreaking realization that we still have to "pay our dues" and wait our turn so they can get one last land grab. I heard it in the IAH lounge back when they were parading this awesome contract around. There was a captain ranting and raving about new hires getting $60+ an hour, that they should keep them in the 30's so they can add that $30+ to those who only have a few years left not to those who have a whole career left out in front of them. (I will admit that one of the ALPA guys did eloquently put him in his place...it was refreshing)!

So bottom lines is, whipping it out on here and trying to measure UAL to CAL is worse than *peeing* in the wind. We're fighting the wrong guys cuz we've all finally gotten to the big dance just to find out there's 3 fat chicks and only 2 songs left to play...

Anyway, good luck to us all and let's focus on making this career better for all of us, not just playing "I got mine."

 

I read this all the time and no I am not a "gummer" as you refer to them but I do fly with them all the time. You seem to forget they are not all 78 79 hires getting a few extra years, many are first officers that are ex eastern ex continetal, yes the ex continental were the ones that went on strike and now will be behind the cal pilots that took their jobs back in 83, yes the same ones that took their job in 83. Those ex eastern and cal "gummers" as you refer have done more for this industry and have been hammered as hard as any group.

 

There's always gotta be someone who misses the point...maybe we should build a thread labeled "come here to see if yours it bigger." I'm just trying to figure out how you knew EXACTLY the "ones" I'm referring to because I was generalizing about a group of few in the baby boomer generation who are and have always been about them and that it's up to us to stop the spread of their IGM infection...unless you like the burning sensation when you pee.

 

Well said syd.

 

+1. Here we go again with the Age 65 whining. Considering that EVERYONE'S career got extended 5 years, it looks like the greedy ones are those who "want it NOW!".

Here's the bottom line:

Age 60 ain't NEVER coming back. In fact, it is WAY more likely Age 67/70 is coming to a career near you. Why? The new ATP reg for commercial flying and the cost of attaining licenses will produce the fabled "pilot shortage"

Only people currently 5 years old and younger can legitimately use the argument, "you knew the retirement age when you signed on".

Oh, and YOU must have known the risks vs rewards of the airline business when you signed on. There is zero guarantee that your airline will be around next year, much less twenty years from now.

Quit whining, suck it up and play the hand you were dealt. Man, I'd LOVE to get some of you whiners at a poker table with your pockets stuffed with cash. At the end of the session you'd be broke and wondering what happened. The funny thing is, you still wouldn't know.

 

 

Well Said!!!!

 

Yes, well said like a 570, or possibly a scab who sat in the right seat for 5 years and the left for 23. My respect goes to the rEAL pilot who was sent packing from United at age 60 with nothing to show for it.

 

You thought I was whining?

 

MobyDick,

My argument at the time age 60 was being debated at our local ALPA meetings was, with guys on furlough, we should not even be talking about extending the retirement age. (Regardless of the spineless ALPA National policy and eventual cave in.)

You don't think this affected their careers, or families? Only a 5-year hiccup? Suck it up? I think not.