The only problem with your idea, Tandemrotor, is that by those doing so I suspect are the same folks that have ignored really basic financial realities in their airline careers, thereby finding themselves on the short end of the funding stick.
Take a look at DAL as a perfect example.
For years the pilot 'thinking' was...'the company is so financially strong, has plenty of cash on hand, has always treated their employees well, so the pension plans available will surely take care of our needs during retirement.'
And, along comes deregulation, and a few new carriers appear on the horizon (Airtran, for example, right in DAL's own backyard) and the cushy financial future begins to erode, ever so slowly...certainy not fast enough for those dense pilots at DAL to realise it. ALPO was not much help either, negotiating the huge pay increases just shortly before it all started to fall apart, and now finds itself in the position of negotiating from a point of extreme weakness, exchanging concessions now from the working crews, in exchange for cutting off the already retired (or about to retire) pilots right at the knees, leaving only the federal government to pick up the pieces, and delivering 20 cents on the dollar, all courtesy of the bankruptcy court.
Pilots in the USA who look to their companies for financial freedom in their later years are in for a rude awakening, as many have found out already, much to their disappointment.
Those in western Europe have a much better deal, as pensions there are protected under law...usually.
Yep, the country club atmosphere was good while it lasted, only to be fondly remembered by those that failed to take the long view, and spend every last dollar when they were making the big bucks.
To those I can only say...'not too smart, was it, Bubba?'
Last edited by 411A; 22nd June 2006 at 03:19.