HFX- According to the last officially published company seniority list with birthdates on it, the numbers are as follows..
27 in 2004
34 in 2005
36 in 2006
For what it is worth, the number of people still in the company who joined in the 70's ('79 specifically) can be counted on one hand. To clarify your statistical database
between start '80 and end '84 38 people joined and are still here (seems no-one joined in 81/82)
in 85 20 people joined and remain.
So a generous 7 year estimate of your "late 70's to mid 80's" database is around 60 pilots, of whom slightly less than half are due to retire between now and 2006.
Again, I cannot speak for the freighter.
I agree with your assertion that we need DE F/Os for the freighter, this is the norm. My statement was in response to Spearing Britney's question about DE F/O's going to the pax fleet.
Now about that need for extensions on the pax fleet...