Originally Posted by
JPJP
Egzactly. Shot Out.
I see where you’re going, but no. Not for me, nor for the pilots beginning their careers. Management got themselves into this mess, now they’re going to have to pay their way out of it. And I don’t mean pay a politician in Hungary. They (ERA, RAA, A4A etc.) want it for all the wrong reasons. The law of unintended consequences is a real witch. Chinese style medical for all ? How about a nice taste of government required Angioplasty for everyone, just to make sure your heart’s in good shape ?
Then we have these sorts of issues. Ageism, incompetence or just slowing down; How do they decide ?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/811...irbus-training
The genesis of the problem is demographic.
As successive governments ignored an aging population and impact on expenditures and declining revenue, so did airline management ignore it. They drove terms and conditions to the point that insufficient new pilots are willing to take the necessary investment for what is now on offer. Self defeating in the long term, but driven by short term bonus culture it was always someone else's problem.
The reason for retirement of airline pilots at a particular age approximating 60 was due cognitive decline.
Whilst not evident in all pilots at the same time, 'on average' statistically it was correlated with an age profile.
This progressive decline was accelerated with circadian rhythm disturbance, digestive imbalance and many of the things pilots (and indeed Cabin crew) live with.
Whilst it is important to note that not all pilots deteriorate universally, many of the studies refuting the decline are done with older pilots
EXERCISING private pilot licences and not those involved in Long Haul night operations.
Now airline management who have previously simply targeted limits to drive 'efficiency' aren't happy. Safe with their weekends off, nights in the own beds and Christmas with their families, they want more.
The regulators are being pressured to lift the retirement age again. Airlines want more from crew, not less.
Qantas CEO Joyce already virtue signaled the Australian regulator CASA to lift the limit for operating crew beyond the current 20 hours.
Interestingly and rather unsurprisingly, the studies undertaken for the long range flying being undertaken by the Qantas 787 did not include pilots and cabin crew.