Yes, we have a pretty good pension. But you have to have 35 years service to get the full amount because it was designed when people got hired at 25 years old or younger. For years now the average age of a new hire has been 35, which means at best under the rules to date they would only get 25 years service and the proportionately reduced pension. Most people fighting this lack the foresight to see that now, but you can be sure in 20 or so years it will become front and centre in their minds and they will undergo a truly miraculous change of attitude.
I don't think anybody realistically expects to be flying when they are much older than 65 because that is the age ICAO has specified as a recommended maximum. But it isn't up to them to make the case for the upper limit, it is up to the industry and operator who hasn't done so yet. The operator doesn't decide either. They present a case for BFOR, or Bonafide Occupational Requirement to the CHRT arguing that beyond a certain age pilots are not employable given certain restrictions to their ability to fly airplanes. The CHRT then decides if it is a valid argument or not to permit age based mandatory retirement.
Of course it may be in the company's best interests to force as many pilots out as they can before the law makes them stop. Because each guy that comes back has most of their salary paid for by the pension plan instead of the company. Pretty good deal for them I'd say, and the union is fully supporting it.
Last edited by engfireleft; 18th Nov 2010 at 18:55.