ATCO early retirement..have you taken it? How was it for you?

[chevvron]

I didn't go early, I went at 60 + 2 months. My intention was to continue part time as I knew my unit would become short staffed, drawing half pay plus pension. 3 Days before I 'officially' retired, I received a copy of an e-mail from HR to pensions telling them not to pay my pension as I was not retiring. I immediately contacted pensions to tell them I was retiring, and on the chosen day, I walked rather than stay on. So now I'm a FISO and it's great fun. I work with another NATS retiree, plus an ATSA who does it in his spare time (amongst others who are not NATS)
PS After 3 years, my old unit is still short staffed.

[BDiONU]

I guess it's horses for courses. I'm 55 in early Feb so should, perhaps, be looking at retiring. Instead I'm taking up a new job with a different company and planning on doing that for at least 5 years. Then I'll think about retiring

BD

[Talkdownman]

Prior to retirement during during a unit-wide individual review with one's line-manager I requested part-time (50%) after the 40 years just to ease out of shiftwork and into retirement. This was denied by nats as there was 'no business case'. Six months after the retirement nats invited me back part-time (50%). I declined as the salary was pathetic being a starting salary because of broken service.

I would have thought that the availability of part-time work would be beneficial to both parties enabling the retiree to adjust to less working / more time off, and for the employer to enjoy the flexibility a pool of experienced and versatile ATCOs. It seems to be all knee-jerk with nats...

[windowjob]

For my last 6 months, after I started taking my pension, I stayed on part time, it was the best thing I did. 4 on 6 off and no nights or paperwork, wonderful.
As far as I was concerned I'd retired but stayed an extra 6 months to help out due to shortages

Like chevvron, I too nearly got caught up with HR and their stupid ways.
They deem that you only retire when you finally walk out the door. What you have to do is "draw down" your pension whilst going part time then "Retire" when you actually leave. They wanted to change all my service/salary details as according to them, I'd retired and came back as a new employee for 6 months.

Get out a.s.a.p. and enjoy it, I can't understand people who want to stay on full time after 60.

[wlatc]

Happy Retirement

I'm a U.S. controller who retired at age 50 with 25 years "on the boards". That was 16 years ago. In the interim, I've collected a wad of money for doing absolutly nothing. How can you beat that?

To keep busy, I've worked contract ATC and Instructor jobs. I've also spent plenty of time doing not much of anything.

ATC, she has been very good to me!

[Minesthechevy]

M

Its not the knees that NATS managers jerk, now is it.....?

[Keo56]

Happy Cluck

Out in 2007, 32.6 total to uncle sammy (intentional lower case), still working on an island VFR tower for a contractor. Love aviation, and to coin a toast: "To us and those like us" here, here!

Would be all in for a international beer convention of ex-current ATC'ers, sans politics, for laffs and good camaraderie.

Something to consider....

Cheers,
Alan

[GAPSTER]

All round your place then