Good God! Some people just can't help themselves, can they?
It should, ideally, be up to the individual when they retire, medicals and proficiency being suitable.
Why should a 55 year old be forced out on the flimsy justification of allowing an AFI to move one step up the ladder? It doesn't work that way in other industries, so why should it in ours? Accusing someone of selfishnesh because they won't retire and allow you to have their position smacks rather heavily of hypocrisy! As the man states, there are all sorts of inocent, sometimes selfless reasons why a 55 year old may not be in a financial position where retirement is desireble.
It's a shame that those on the lower rungs, such as me, will be held up by those staying on at the top that little bit longer, but a specific rate of career progression was not part of the deal when most joined the profession, and it's not unreasonable to ask people to think of what they'd be doing if the shoe was on the other foot.