This Age 60 rule, if repealed, will have enormous consequences for any pilot who is not a senior captain. The ramifications will be worldwide, not solely felt in the U.S.. Many non U.S. carriers base their retirement rules on what other countries determine, because if the pilot cannot fly into the airspace, he is not able to perform his job for the company.
Much of the Pacific is U.S. airspace. Singapore, India, France, Indonesia and many other nations do not allow pilots over the age of 60 to command airliners in their airspace.
Whilst understanding the financial woes of the U.S. industry, I would say to those supporting any change that it is purely for selfish reasons, just as those fighting against it are similarly inclined.
All U.S. industry has been artificially supported by ridiculous Chapter 11 legislation that undermines the basic principles of business. If the business is a dead dog, it dies. Only Chapter 11 allows you to keep the dog on life support almost endlessly. Unless Airlines are allowed to fail, and Australia has seen a few, real market economics never play a hand.
Linking financially crippled retirement plans to the over 60 debate shows what this is truly about. MONEY!
Pilots, with their seniority provisions, become the most selfish of all people when they enter in to the airline arena. Seniority causes this. If the supporters of age 60 removal wish to seek a change on the basis of fairness, are they also willing to seek a change to 1960's type work practices like seniority? NO WAY!
Why? Because they've done their time is the most common answer. Well guess what, those junior to you have also done their time in allowing you to have your benefits up until your retirement, and not challenging the system. But now you want to change the rules up the top, and the bottom can go screw yourselves.
Can't you understand that those people are obviously going to feel aggrieved?
When the older pilot fraternity, who are invariably senior, learn that the next generation are not like their parents and prone to waiting patiently for their “Time in the Sun”, there may be progress. Generational change will drive major changes in workplace agreements. What seems important to older pilots is seen as just a rort by younger pilots. Why? Because the younger generation can see the pace of change in the world. They understand the requirement to change with it and adapt new practices. The older generation want to hang on to the old ideals that they were bought up with. That’s normal.
But unless there is flexibility given on both sides this issue will continue to divide the pilot fraternity worldwide as it does today.
Has any U.S. congressman asked any major Australian Airline how many pilots over the age of 60 they have gracefully retired due to standards issues? Again, the pace of change and the ability to adapt flows through to every part of what we do, and the current flurry of activity in our arena is almost unprecedented.
So, don’t hide behind medical arguments etc. Come out and tell the truth. For the older guys it is about money. If it was a love of flying etc. they would bid back to the right hand seat. For the younger guys it is about being forced to wait longer for promotion and all the issues attached to that.
Find an answer to that addresses both issues and the problem goes away. That’s what should be focused on, but therein lays the eternal problem. No one wants to do the work.