We have a few guys working beyond 55 on extensions because their skills were deemed important to retain. But in some (not all) cases these people are on restricted med cats which don't allow them to deploy etc. With RAF numbers reducing & the aim being to have a 'lean deployable force' can we really afford to have older people filling a place?
There are other issues about fitness for operations - do we really need somebody in his 60s having to escape & evade after being shot down? If they can't deploy then that reduces the pool for operations. I realise that there are plenty of unfit youths in the RAF but hopefully you get my point?
Not a blast at the oldies, I'm getting close to being one myself!