For those questioning John Smith maybe you aren't as well informed as you think you are. I was a CTC cadet of the same era as him and we were indeed offered unsecured loans. As for his employer, well that's, ahem, "ezy" to guess in my opinion.....
And broadly speaking I agree with his sentiments. If people want to keep flying beyond 65 and can hold down a medical and maintain licence proficiency then good luck to them, each to their own. However I can't think of anything worse after a 40 year plus airline career of continuing into my 70s with the work life balance going the way it is.
The big beef with the 65ers who wish to continue in the established airlines (BA being a prime example) is they will continue to sit at the top of a seniority list cherry picking as they please while everyone else underneath has to sit and stagnate while the goal posts keep changing in the senior chaps favour. In smaller airlines/non-airline flying I can imagine the motivation is an enjoyment of a niche side of professional flying an airline jockey might never see.
But in general I'm with John Smith. Airline flying is becoming increasingly dull, regimented and automated. If will only become more so. If you find yourself admiring the way AP1 flys that that cracking RNAV or get a kick out of working out dispatch landing distances 4 times a day because the regulatory body says we have to then good for you, but I really do think those who carry on are ruining a well deserved retirement. All a matter of opinion of course...
Anyway, an incendiary topic this most certainly is, so I stand by for incoming.