PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - What can pilots work as after retirement?
Old 27th Aug 2013, 05:43
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onetrack
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
Age: 75
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The problems with retirement at 60, when you're still mostly in good working shape, are;

1. "Relevance deprivation syndrome". The loss of everyday workmates and the workplace makes you feel as though you're worthless and irrelevant. The loss of a regimented job schedule often leaves one feeling at a loss every day as to what to do.

2. Loss of status. As a Captain, you enjoy substantial status in society and amongst peers and associates. Suddenly, in an instant, it's virtually all gone. You're just another Joe Blow in the street.
It's a struggle to get the people you now meet as a retiree to regard you with the status you once held. It's like starting as a trainee all over again.

3. A need to feel useful in society. When we're employed in a job with status, we feel a useful part of our society. With retirement comes the feeling that you're no longer useful to society.
One has to plan for this and map out retirement jobs and plans exactly as one maps out our career.

As a Captain with a wide range of aviation skills, an aviation training area is where you would be of most use. However, the chances of any aviation training organisation or business employing a person over 60, is very small indeed.

You could write a book, if you feel you have adequate skills to do so. Even just a book about your experiences, both funny and sombre, can often be a project that will keep you occupied for a number of years.

You could start up your own business as a trainer or aviation consultant. This does require business skills and a knowledge of what is required, or in demand in the aviation field.

You could totally forget about aviation and take up a business franchise of some kind. I've seen retired pilots who have enjoyed immensely, the transition to a small business operation, totally unrelated to aviation.

At 60, and physically fit, you have at least 10 and possibly 15 years before you really need to slow down - and you'll find that in your early 70's, working full time will have lost its appeal.
Accordingly, plan something that will occupy that period of time and which allows you to gradually scale down your workload and working hours as you reach your early-to-mid 70's.
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