Great post flyphisher,

By much of what you describe, I arrived at my own list of top 3 choices: FedEx, UPS, and Cathay Pacific. I consider myself very fortunate to have landed my top choice after many years of hard work (like the vast majority of us). However, I would have felt just as fortunate to have been hired on with UPS or Cathay.

As first posts go, that one's a winner!

Call me naive, but after a three full careers: in the airlines, at FedEx; as well as 34 years in the military; and also in a civilian job at a major life insurance company for many years, I find it rather unusual that the sole purpose people work at a company is for the money (both now and in retirement.) I know that sounds strange, and I fully understand that those who aren't making enough to support themselves and their families are saying: "are you nuts. I'll take that job in a NY minute." However, I know for sure that once employed and making a reasonable salary, those same folks will be very unhappy, because they're not being treated as the valuable resource that they are, but as a liability, with virtually no rights, other than those negotiated. For those who can actually go to work and do their job, while not allowing all the white noise around them to upset their focus, then go home to friends and family, while not thinking about what they just left, and more importantly, not thinking about what's coming up when they return to work, are very lucky individuals. I know for a fact that I couldn't narrow my focus that much, especially if I were looking into the future, and the thought of having to face that environment, for the rest of my career, would just make me sick. Again, for those who can do the above without it bothering them, my hat's off to you, and you are right where you need to be.

Been at brown for 18 years... Jetjok nailed it.

Delicate balance between the money and QOL...to keep yourself and the family happy. Gotta set your priorities and, as Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations."

Where are you getting 1000 retirements in 10 years? 789 by the end of 2024. That is when retirements will pick up steam. The next 5 years are slow, according to APC

double post

My kids were tornados so I maybe off a couple numbers but here they are.

UPS retirements

Year retirements total

2014 28 28
2015 24 52
2016 37 89
2017 48 137
2018 55 192
2019 71 263
2020 92 355
2021 88 443
2022 96 539
2023 85 624
2024 132 756
2025 133 889
2026 168 1057
2027 153 1210
2028 177 1387
2029 168 1555
2030 152 1707

Total current pilots -2531
junior captain - 1556
Total FOs bypassing upgrade - 327

Agree with you, jetjok. Unless I have a couple of months off (and that's never going to happen), I can't leave work at work. I talk about it, technical, personal and company issues. Something unusual happens, I think about it, a situation happens where a crewmember/management/mechanic reacts poorly, I talk about it. It bothers me when even though we are giving 110%, sometimes we have to put up with some craziness and lack of respect. I can't leave it at work, it all comes home with me.

Thanks Swedish. I wasn't trying to slam Fit, but wanted to point out the next 5 years are slow retirements.