Oh yeah?
 

I'll bet he doesn't go. I heard about this guy or that guy for 35 years that was going to leave early.... no one ever did.

My Father voluntarily retired (767 CA) in 2003 at 56... so it does happen on occasion.

Rare, rare, rare....
 

I agree it is statistically possible, but....

I told my wife about the early-out program. She said why would someone quit to clear $30k for 5 years when they could just get "dizzy" and take the LTD, $96k a year after taxes til 65?

Why indeed?

TW

So in other words lie and deliberately lose your medical. As more pilots abuse the system, the costs go up for everyone else to support the system while you play golf for an extra 5 years. Brilliant. I'll stick to using LTD if and only if the FAA doc actually finds a real problem that has no quick resolution. If we end up losing the LTD system down the road due to it no longer being sustainable, I will happily donate vacation days to pilots with an actual need as I have in the past.
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Eddie, it's in the contract and paid for in negotiating capital. Lousy deal or not. Might want to lay off the koolaid a bit.

Sure it is. The company pays 2/3 the cost of the program and the pilot group pays 1/3 via monthly payroll deduction. I'm glad we have the program and want to see it continue on in future contracts. However, are you interested in paying inflated premiums down the road so otherwise healthy and fully capable pilots can sit at home for years while you continue to work? Sorry Dave, I don't have any interest in paying for fraud. Objecting to that is kool-aid drinking? Wow.

Cuz, while I'd agree with your premise about this constituting fraud and hurting the pilot group, I have a hard time getting too worked up about it. The reality is management games the system and uses every loophole to maximize their pay. We're playing by separate rules. If the leaders in corporate America actually showed some ethics and led, the workers might actually follow the positive example. Right now anyone gaming the LTD system (if anyone is actually gaming it) is just following the negative example set by the corporate "leadership" in this country. No, this isn't just an airline issue.

Call it what ever you want but it is still fraud and unethical. Explain that
to your kid how daddy or mommy really isn't sick but he or she is taking
money from an insurance company saying he or she is. It has nothing to do
corporate leadership, that is just rationalization. To lie about your physical
ability or lack of to the FAA is fraud, then to take insurance money. It is not only
playing the system but illegal and unethical, plain and simple.

The big downside is that at some outfits you lose the option to take a lump sum retirement payout. You are pension only. Most pensions do not have cost of living escalators.