cpdude
That’s a complete distortion of the truth. Do you know the demographics of the average SO joining the company? It aint 20 years old mate. It’s closer to 35. A very large proportion of those could have joined as DEFO’s on the freighter if places were available in the ports from which they were employed but they weren’t. RA60 will delay any FO and Command upgrade by at least 5 years. Simple mathematics.
While I concede that being able to work until 60 may appear attractive, especially if you already hold a command and/or have had several wives or started late in this career like me, it is detrimental to the pilot body as a whole.
Using your analogy that retirement age should be 60 or 65 is just as floored as 55 in the eyes of some courts. It is age discrimination. Now having an open ended retirement age would really be great for everyone wouldn’t it? Not.
