A pilot’s quest to remain at the top

[a330pilotcanada]

Good Morning All:

If you do decide to comment on this article please read it as well as the readers comments as well.

A pilot’s quest to remain at the top

BRENT JANG — TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Mar. 11, 2011 7:30PM EST

23 comments

He’s No. 1. His name is Michael Ennis, and the Air Canada (AC.B-T2.800.093.32%) captain is at the very top of the seniority list of the airline’s 3,039 pilots. That means he has one of the best jobs in Canadian aviation, choosing the destinations he wants to fly on the carrier’s wide-body Boeing 777s.

The trouble is that he will turn 60 in April, and under the collective agreement between the airline and the Air Canada Pilots Association, he will be forced out of his job on May 1.

In this latest chapter in the long-running battle over the airline’s controversial mandatory-retirement policy, Mr. Ennis filed a complaint Friday with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, arguing that the union is declining to represent him in his quest to stay No. 1 at Air Canada until he turns 65.

Seniority is crucial because it determines which pilots win better-paid assignments on larger planes, and sets priorities for vacation time.

Knowing that Air Canada’s mandatory-retirement rule won’t be changing any time soon, Mr. Ennis has landed a job with Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines. He will start May 2, one day after he is formally removed from Air Canada’s pilot seniority list.

For Mr. Ennis, the assignment with Turkish Airlines will be a step down in pay and prestige, but he is adamant about working beyond 60. “My first choice is to stay with Air Canada,” he said in an interview from his home in Oakville, Ont., before heading for a workout at a local gym. “I’m in good shape. Everybody says I don’t look like I’m turning 60, for sure.”

Mr. Ennis, who started at Air Canada shortly after his 21st birthday in 1972, loves his job. “I’m No. 1, so I go wherever I want,” he said, listing some of the routes he flies – Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Air Canada and Turkish Airlines are both members of the Star Alliance of global carriers, but it just won’t be same with the new employer, he said.

“It’s not right that I have to leave Canada,” Mr. Ennis said. “The world has changed, and many other airlines have changed it to retiring at age 65, but not Air Canada.”

Through Internet-based phone services such as Skype, he plans to stay in touch with his wife, Barbara, a former Air Canada flight attendant, and their son Ben, 27, and daughter Katie, 24.

Pilots with Mr. Ennis’s experience earn $230,000 a year and qualify for a pension of $10,000 a month if they retire at age 60. At Turkish Airlines, it is estimated that he will earn $150,000 annually.

“My wife knows that I would be a wreck if I stopped working,” said Mr. Ennis, who rose to the top of Air Canada’s seniority rankings in February, 2010, and has been in the top 10 for the past four years.

But his wish to stay in the job is opposed by many of his colleagues. Capt. Cory Brown, 33, said extending the retirement age to 65 will penalize younger pilots.

“Seniority is your entire life because seniority affects everything. When these older pilots say they want to work past the age of 60, it’s going to affect my lifestyle,” said Mr. Brown, who flies the 93-seat Embraer jet for Air Canada, mostly on routes within North America.

The Ontario-based pilot, who earned $113,000 last year, said older pilots should view it as their duty to “pass the torch” to younger colleagues.

Union officials argue that an internal survey of Air Canada pilots last year showed that 82 per cent of the respondents favoured keeping the retirement age at 60 or younger.

A group called the Fly Past 60 Coalition, however, is backing Mr. Ennis in his fight against Air Canada and the union representing the airline’s pilots. Raymond Hall, a lawyer and retired Air Canada pilot who heads the coalition, said there are more than 150 other retired pilots seeking to fly again.

Mr. Hall filed the complaint Friday to the Canada Industrial Relations Board on behalf of Mr. Ennis and two other pilots who will also soon turn 60, Brad Ellis and Andrew Clark, who allege that their union unfairly refused to initiate grievances. The union rejects the allegations and plans to respond.

The International Civil Aviation Organization allows a pilot aged 60 to 65 to be in the cockpit on overseas flights, as long as the other pilot is under 60.

[clunckdriver]

"Joined AC at 21? Wonder how that hapened? I remember now, he was just so gifted that AC wanted him at age ten, but the child labour laws wouldnt allow it! {Thanks daddy!}

[engfireleft]

All of the commentators slagging this man for his unfettered greed have completely ignored two facts:

1. Mandatory retirement is age discrimination in Canada now, and;
2. They have the ability to change the pay system to adapt to this new reality.

When those two facts penetrate their craniums maybe then they'll stop acting like a bunch of helpless victims and do something useful to adapt to the inescapable way things are.

[J.O.]

I admire his desire to keep flying, but I'm not sure this is the best story to use to help gain public sympathy for the over 60 cause at Air Canada. How many Canadians can say they've had a 39 year career at the same company and can retire at 60 with an indexed six figure pension? I know it's not relevant in the legal sense, but that doesn't make it an easy sell.

[clunckdriver]

As a retiree, still flying at 73, I just cant figure why these folks want to keep flying for the SAME outfit, are they frightened to leave the big corporation "womb" and afraid of demonstating their skills under a different culture? If this chap joined at 21 he really hasnt seen anything outside of Air Canada, a fine place to work and fly for sure but there is lots to be seen on the "outside". Since I retired I have been endorsed on three types not flown before and enjoy going to sim to demostrate that at least some of the grey matter still works, having said that I do intend to pull the pin fairly soon and am busy training my relpacement.Some of the most rewarding flying done since leaving "Big Red" has been charity work, flying Cancer patients for treatment, sure puts things in perspective when one feels hard done by, maybe he should try somthing like this for a change of scene.

[a330pilotcanada]

The following is a sample of the readership from the Globe and Mail.

If this is an average response I would be ashamed to wear a Air Canada uniform right now.

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Battling Ignorance
8:35 PM on March 11, 2011
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The article & the pilot involved seem to have missed two things.
Retirement at age 60 was negotiated & written into the contract decades ago. This greedy pilot knew that retirement was at 60 from the day he was hired.
The reason he is now #1, (and been in the top 10 for years) was because everyone else ahead of him retired at 60, allowing him to move up.
Now that everyone else got out of his way it seems he wants the rules changed...it was fine you retire d & let me be #1, but now that I'm here I think the rules should change so I can stay here...to hell with all the rest of you.
You will be despised on the flight line for the greed & arrogance.
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gb_eh
7:56 PM on March 11, 2011
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Hey.. you have a negotiated contract between your union and the company... stop your moaning and go to Turkey...
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nice_try
9:55 PM on March 11, 2011
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For 39 years Mike has enjoyed watching about 50-100 pilots retire ahead of him, allowing him to move up the list. Do you think this guy ever said a word about it? Of course not....that's why he's #1...and he let's everyone at the airline know his number. Now, 50 days before retirement, he's found religion.
What a tool this guy is.
And by the way...a good dye job can make a guy look younger, but that bent stoop, a bad back, and cracking bones are a dead giveaway.
Enjoy Turkey.
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British Canadian
11:20 PM on March 11, 2011
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If he is looking for sympathy - sorry - no dice.

10 grand a month! Probably health and dental. Definitely cheap airfare.

My god son, your wife should slap you.
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Ms Auga
10:04 PM on March 11, 2011
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The ONLY reason he is #1, is because hundreds of pilots before him were forced to retire. Now it's your turn. If you want to keep flying, and spend a huge part of your time away from your wife, instead of using your pension and enjoying your free time with her, then I personally think you have a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.
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Thames
10:16 PM on March 11, 2011
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Or maybe he should buy a Cessna and take his wife flying. Good points.
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enormity
10:59 PM on March 11, 2011
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Brent Jang seems to omit some of the most important points. This Captain has created, through his 39 years of votting within a collective union, a system which pays him around $230,000 a year, and at least 400 of his junior peers less than $70,000 a year. His pension will be greater than those 400 pilots wages. Instead of comming up with any sensible ideas of how to fix this pay disparity, this gentleman along with his 150 top paid friends have decided that their human rights are being violated within the system which they built. The CHRT is now involved to assist these poor soles remain where they are (based solely on seniority) while those 400 junior pilots can suck it up and remain at $70,000 a year until those above him die off of natural causes, I guess. Funny how these top paid over 60 gentlemen will require a babysitter under the age of 60 to fly with them, at half their wage or less.
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9:32 PM on March 11, 2011
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i smile
5:54 AM on March 12, 2011
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Give it up.You had a job you loved, and you get a fantastic pension. Now, it is time to find a conscience, and give the young people a chance. Speaking of that, the way things are today, the people who can retire, and are financially able to, do the young, the highest unemployed among us,a favour. To not step aside, the young think is extremely selfish, and no question, they are absolutely right!
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69rooster
11:31 PM on March 11, 2011
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I wonder did this Mike Ennis speak up when older, more senior pilots retired ahead of him, thereby allowing Mr. Ennis to get to be at the top of the seniority list, or did he quietly sit by and wait until he was in the top 10%?
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nice_try
12:08 AM on March 12, 2011
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Top 10%?
My God, this guy might have maintained a shred of respect amongst his peers if he started his crusade when he was #300.
No, no, no....this clown waited until he was in the op half of the top 1%.
And I can guarantee you that he knows where every penny went. His cheapness is insulting to actual cheap people.
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[a330pilotcanada]

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Thames
8:30 PM on March 11, 2011
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Wow, and I thought civil servants had a culture of entitlement. I'm not sure who is worse, the 60 year old who wants to hang on to his right to make almost a quarter million a year choosing his destination, or the younger one, trying to push the older guy out. Unbelievable. Note to Air Canada Share Holders. Pay your pilots by the hour. Better yet, sell your shares.
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pseudocynic
12:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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Are you sure you want the pilot of the plane you're on to be fresh from McDonalds? I'd rather have the pilot earning a quarter million than some marketing executive making 7 figures. There's a reason why Air Canada hasn't had a fatal accident since 1983, pilots are the last thing that you want go cheap on.
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A_G1
3:51 PM on March 12, 2011
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pseudocynic - You're absolutely right, no food stamps for my pilots, thanks. However, I think AC would be better off paying it's incoming pilots more than $43K and letting the +$200k's go @ 60.
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senyoryak
8:33 AM on March 12, 2011
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Of course his union will not represent his rediculous position as it would be a gross violation of the collective agreement that he and the union accepted. What a selfish man.
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Steve1
10:38 AM on March 12, 2011
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what an #@$% !
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Silver Phoenix
8:56 AM on March 12, 2011
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The rights of the many should always outweigh the rights of the individual. At some point an aging pilot with declining skills will jeopardize the lives of his passengers. We don't ever want to reach that point. At age 60 there is a guarantee that that point is not reached. There cannot be an individual approach to this determination because an error will be made.
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Robm222
12:15 PM on March 12, 2011
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So 30 plus years as a Captain with Canada's largest airline making probably more money than anyone has EVER made is not enough for Captain Ennis?
Whatever happened to retiring with dignity and grace?
Does he have any idea that most of his junior collegues will not log 30 years with the airline in ANY capacity - nevermind 30 years as a Captain!
I feel absoulutely no sympathy for this man. He enjoyed the most sublime pilot's career a person in this country could wish for and he wants more - at the expense of his younger Air Canada pilots.
Respect? I don't think so...
RobM
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aviatrx
11:49 AM on March 12, 2011
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I have difficulty finding sympathy for this guy who has an issue with retirement at the age of 60, after a long and successful career. What about all the jobless pilots out there? Look at what is happening in the U.S....there are pilots with 15 years experience who are out of work because of the change in retirement age. Do you really want this to happen in Canada? If the Globe and Mail is going to profile this pilot, how about profiling a struggling out of work/junior pilot. Let's fully consider the real world consequences of extending the retirement age, instead of listening to this guy whine about losing his coveted number one seniority number.
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lee_rose
8:56 PM on March 11, 2011
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The whole notion of rewarding seniority in this way really irritates me. Why not have it based on performance rather than length of service? Seems logical to me.
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layinglow
1:53 PM on March 12, 2011
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“I’m in good shape. Everybody says I don’t look like I’m turning 60, for sure.”

Oh C'mon Mike.
You've been dying your hair for years and you walk like an 80 year old with that bad back of yours. If I look like that when I'm 60, get me a wheelchair.

Come to think of it, you must be in pretty good shape to keep patting yourself on the back like you have lately, as you bop off about all those "perfect" approaches and landings.

Would you rather retire at the "bottom of your game", with multiple failed rides or worse, a incident/accident?
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Langenfeld
3:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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This selfish pilot's argument would have been more convincing had he stated his position about two decades ago. But of course, that would not have been in his best interest. Shame on him, that leech.
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[a330pilotcanada]

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andre1958
3:50 PM on March 12, 2011
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I know a little bit about aviation. I am not sure how I would like to hear on pre-flights, ''This is the captain speaking, I am 65 but do not fear, everyone tells me that I do not look that old''.

There is probably a good reason why that rule is in place. I know, some will say that 60 years old people (some anyway) are still able to do things. I agree. If he wants to keep working, he should be teaching, not flying.


posterboy
8:17 PM on March 11, 2011
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I bet he didnt have a problem with the guys before him getting pushed into retirement, allowing him to move up
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Battling Ignorance
8:35 PM on March 11, 2011
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The article & the pilot involved seem to have missed two things.
Retirement at age 60 was negotiated & written into the contract decades ago. This greedy pilot knew that retirement was at 60 from the day he was hired.
The reason he is now #1, (and been in the top 10 for years) was because everyone else ahead of him retired at 60, allowing him to move up.
Now that everyone else got out of his way it seems he wants the rules changed...it was fine you retire d & let me be #1, but now that I'm here I think the rules should change so I can stay here...to hell with all the rest of you.
You will be despised on the flight line for the greed & arrogance.
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gb_eh
7:56 PM on March 11, 2011
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Hey.. you have a negotiated contract between your union and the company... stop your moaning and go to Turkey...
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nice_try
9:55 PM on March 11, 2011
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For 39 years Mike has enjoyed watching about 50-100 pilots retire ahead of him, allowing him to move up the list. Do you think this guy ever said a word about it? Of course not....that's why he's #1...and he let's everyone at the airline know his number. Now, 50 days before retirement, he's found religion.
What a tool this guy is.
And by the way...a good dye job can make a guy look younger, but that bent stoop, a bad back, and cracking bones are a dead giveaway.
Enjoy Turkey.
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British Canadian
11:20 PM on March 11, 2011
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If he is looking for sympathy - sorry - no dice.

10 grand a month! Probably health and dental. Definitely cheap airfare.

My god son, your wife should slap you.
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Ms Auga
10:04 PM on March 11, 2011
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The ONLY reason he is #1, is because hundreds of pilots before him were forced to retire. Now it's your turn. If you want to keep flying, and spend a huge part of your time away from your wife, instead of using your pension and enjoying your free time with her, then I personally think you have a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.
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Thames
10:16 PM on March 11, 2011
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Or maybe he should buy a Cessna and take his wife flying. Good points.
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enormity
10:59 PM on March 11, 2011
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Brent Jang seems to omit some of the most important points. This Captain has created, through his 39 years of votting within a collective union, a system which pays him around $230,000 a year, and at least 400 of his junior peers less than $70,000 a year. His pension will be greater than those 400 pilots wages. Instead of comming up with any sensible ideas of how to fix this pay disparity, this gentleman along with his 150 top paid friends have decided that their human rights are being violated within the system which they built. The CHRT is now involved to assist these poor soles remain where they are (based solely on seniority) while those 400 junior pilots can suck it up and remain at $70,000 a year until those above him die off of natural causes, I guess. Funny how these top paid over 60 gentlemen will require a babysitter under the age of 60 to fly with them, at half their wage or less.
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9:32 PM on March 11, 2011
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i smile
5:54 AM on March 12, 2011
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Give it up.You had a job you loved, and you get a fantastic pension. Now, it is time to find a conscience, and give the young people a chance. Speaking of that, the way things are today, the people who can retire, and are financially able to, do the young, the highest unemployed among us,a favour. To not step aside, the young think is extremely selfish, and no question, they are absolutely right!
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69rooster
11:31 PM on March 11, 2011
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I wonder did this Mike Ennis speak up when older, more senior pilots retired ahead of him, thereby allowing Mr. Ennis to get to be at the top of the seniority list, or did he quietly sit by and wait until he was in the top 10%?
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nice_try
12:08 AM on March 12, 2011
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Top 10%?
My God, this guy might have maintained a shred of respect amongst his peers if he started his crusade when he was #300.
No, no, no....this clown waited until he was in the op half of the top 1%.
And I can guarantee you that he knows where every penny went. His cheapness is insulting to actual cheap people.
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Thames
8:30 PM on March 11, 2011
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Wow, and I thought civil servants had a culture of entitlement. I'm not sure who is worse, the 60 year old who wants to hang on to his right to make almost a quarter million a year choosing his destination, or the younger one, trying to push the older guy out. Unbelievable. Note to Air Canada Share Holders. Pay your pilots by the hour. Better yet, sell your shares.
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pseudocynic
12:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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Are you sure you want the pilot of the plane you're on to be fresh from McDonalds? I'd rather have the pilot earning a quarter million than some marketing executive making 7 figures. There's a reason why Air Canada hasn't had a fatal accident since 1983, pilots are the last thing that you want go cheap on.
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[Mizuno boy]

So many thoughts and perspectives on this issue. As a family member of an airline Captain who had 37 years of uninterrupted and unimpeded,
upward (seat position wise) service at a major airline and retired in the early 90's, I can understand the desire to fly past 60. For alot of these gentlemen flying was their identity and a way of life. I witnessed a fair number of these retirees that in my opinion past away earlier than they should of because their sense of self worth and purpose in life was taken away with retirement.
Unfortunately for the newer generation of pilots this career potential (length and renumeration)is no longer possible. Most if not all of the recent (last 25-30 years) group of pilots have been through layoffs, bankrupcies, and airplanes sold out beneath them, and consequesntly earnings and retirement security. (note this is not just aviation but business and life in general)
For myself, 32 years of flying, 2 banktupcies, and 3 layoffs, last 20 years in corporate aviation and I wouldn't change a thing. Having said all this, retiring will not be hard, as being pilot is what I do not what I am ( although if you asked me this 25-30 years ago I probably would have said that being a pilot was how I defined myself) Not to say I won't miss the actual act of flying, the wonderful people I have met and worked with, or amazing places I have seen, but the struggle for jobs and raising a family changes your perspective.
Guess what I am trying to say is that I can see both sides of the argument and therefore I feel both sides need to work together to solve this disagreement in the best intersets of all, instead of fracturing the pilot group with the venom that these issues are bringing out.
After watching the backward spiral due to the infighting brought on by different pilot groups during mergers, takeovers and union squabbles it is time to work for the greater good of all and not just the individual, or associated group.

Safe flying Guys
Cheers
MB

[a330pilotcanada]

The Last of the current comments from the readers of the Globe and Mail:

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A_G1
3:51 PM on March 12, 2011
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pseudocynic - You're absolutely right, no food stamps for my pilots, thanks. However, I think AC would be better off paying it's incoming pilots more than $43K and letting the +$200k's go @ 60.
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senyoryak
8:33 AM on March 12, 2011
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Of course his union will not represent his rediculous position as it would be a gross violation of the collective agreement that he and the union accepted. What a selfish man.
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Steve1
10:38 AM on March 12, 2011
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what an #@$% !
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Silver Phoenix
8:56 AM on March 12, 2011
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The rights of the many should always outweigh the rights of the individual. At some point an aging pilot with declining skills will jeopardize the lives of his passengers. We don't ever want to reach that point. At age 60 there is a guarantee that that point is not reached. There cannot be an individual approach to this determination because an error will be made.
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Robm222
12:15 PM on March 12, 2011
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So 30 plus years as a Captain with Canada's largest airline making probably more money than anyone has EVER made is not enough for Captain Ennis?
Whatever happened to retiring with dignity and grace?
Does he have any idea that most of his junior collegues will not log 30 years with the airline in ANY capacity - nevermind 30 years as a Captain!
I feel absoulutely no sympathy for this man. He enjoyed the most sublime pilot's career a person in this country could wish for and he wants more - at the expense of his younger Air Canada pilots.
Respect? I don't think so...
RobM
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aviatrx
11:49 AM on March 12, 2011
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I have difficulty finding sympathy for this guy who has an issue with retirement at the age of 60, after a long and successful career. What about all the jobless pilots out there? Look at what is happening in the U.S....there are pilots with 15 years experience who are out of work because of the change in retirement age. Do you really want this to happen in Canada? If the Globe and Mail is going to profile this pilot, how about profiling a struggling out of work/junior pilot. Let's fully consider the real world consequences of extending the retirement age, instead of listening to this guy whine about losing his coveted number one seniority number.
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lee_rose
8:56 PM on March 11, 2011
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The whole notion of rewarding seniority in this way really irritates me. Why not have it based on performance rather than length of service? Seems logical to me.
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layinglow
1:53 PM on March 12, 2011
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“I’m in good shape. Everybody says I don’t look like I’m turning 60, for sure.”

Oh C'mon Mike.
You've been dying your hair for years and you walk like an 80 year old with that bad back of yours. If I look like that when I'm 60, get me a wheelchair.

Come to think of it, you must be in pretty good shape to keep patting yourself on the back like you have lately, as you bop off about all those "perfect" approaches and landings.

Would you rather retire at the "bottom of your game", with multiple failed rides or worse, a incident/accident?
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Langenfeld
3:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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This selfish pilot's argument would have been more convincing had he stated his position about two decades ago. But of course, that would not have been in his best interest. Shame on him, that leech.
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andre1958
3:50 PM on March 12, 2011
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I know a little bit about aviation. I am not sure how I would like to hear on pre-flights, ''This is the captain speaking, I am 65 but do not fear, everyone tells me that I do not look that old''.

There is probably a good reason why that rule is in place. I know, some will say that 60 years old people (some anyway) are still able to do things. I agree. If he wants to keep working, he should be teaching, not flying.

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4:56 PM on March 12, 2011

Seems like most people are upset with the age of the gentleman and the possibility of deteriorating skills. Well, in my profession of air traffic control, we have people over the age of 60, who are marginally able to keep up with the volume of traffic now and insist on still working. They also have generous pensions of about $8000 per month, yet they won't retire either.

I think it is very sad that someone who has worked for 30-40 years (or more) has nothing better to do with their time than keep working. There is so much of the world to see, so much to do and their time on earth is coming to a close sooner rather than later. They have better retirement incomes than the vast number of Canadians, yet their lives are so empty that they cannot bring themselves to leave work.

As for me, at 53, I'll have 31 years in - and that is enough!! Only a few more years to go. If I can't live on $8K+ per month, I'll adjust my lifestyle to make it work!!.

6:24 PM on March 12, 2011
The worst part is the marginal ones don't seem to know it. This argument of flying past 60 has been around for years. My experience has been many that have strived to go past 60 were the very same marginal ones. good thing for good F/O's
Thanks for your honesty, JJ.
Frankly , as a passenger , I would not choose
to have this individual fly me !

I'd rather have a younger less arrogant captain in the
cockpit !
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JohanGK
5:03 PM on March 12, 2011
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I guess you won't be flying WESTJET anytime soon. Their retirement age is 65.
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Retiredandhappy
4:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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As a retired Captain from Air Canada and also knowing Mr. Ennis, oops sorry Captain Ennis (for you Mikey) I offer the following comments:

Why did you not try to change the collective agreement years ago?

I believe that some pilots who wish to work past 60 years have ligitimate reasons to do so, greed and arrogance are not ligitimate. Your comments to the Globe show your arrogance please readers do not think all pilots are of this mannerism. Many of us have retired with a happy face from a great career

I hope you have a sympathetic crew for the remainder of your flights, it could make for a very quiet flightdeck otherwise.

I wonder if Turkish Airlines knows that you have stated you will be working for a less prestigous airline than Air Canada when you arrive on their doorstep. I am sure you mentioned that to your future employer during your interview!

In closing did anyone ever give you a break when you were applying for Air Canada? Mikey think of all the young folks trying to get on with Air Canada. Maybe you could give them a break!! Blue side up
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Langenfeld
3:26 PM on March 12, 2011
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“I’m No. 1, so I go wherever I want,” he says. What a fool, to say such a thing.

Why don't you just stick to the agreement you knew was in place.

You're not setting a good example for your kids, dude.

I thought entitlement of this sort only happened in public service and Third World countries.
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whatchut
12:44 PM on March 12, 2011
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Generational theft!
I see the same issue in many workplaces.
I have a young guy, just married, living in his parents basement, who is denied full time employment because the senior guy does not want to retire.
This guy is no different.
Pure entitlement.
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BrianCritchley1
7:37 PM on March 12, 2011
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and then these same people wonder why the younger generations aren't working full time jobs etc and conclude we must be lazy and entitled!
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reheats
2:44 PM on March 12, 2011
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Why don't you just retire and enjoy your remaining time on this earth? Unless flying an airplane is more fun than what you have at home.
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DLarmer
4:36 PM on March 12, 2011
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Got me, he'll be making more after he retires.
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lookinin
2:10 PM on March 12, 2011
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Oh, for Gawd's sakes, just fly gently into that good night quit your b*tchin'. This Boomer embarrasses the h*ll out of me. My apologies to the Gen X'rs, etc. Sheesh.
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lee_rose
8:56 PM on March 11, 2011
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The whole notion of rewarding seniority in this way really irritates me. Why not have it based on performance rather than length of service? Seems logical to me.
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AA-from-TO
10:43 PM on March 11, 2011
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There is no real standard for assessing a pilot's "performance."

If by performance you mean a pilot's ability to fly planes, then all pilots are the same until disaster strikes. If you are referring to their productivity to the airline, then safety becomes an issue.

And so seniority is the most reasonable indication of a pilot's performance.
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Headnotinthesand
7:06 PM on March 12, 2011
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AA - put them on a flight simulator!
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k moss winnipeg
4:47 PM on March 12, 2011
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flying a plane is like golfing - overpaid - i could fly most of these computer driven buses

his lawyer ray hall is running for the conservatives in river heights in winnipeg - he draws $120,000 pension from air canada , probably earns another $250,000 at taylor mcaffrey and now wants to help Israel where he has traveled 200 times

came to the door campaigning and i gave him the boot when i asked him about my concerns for gay writes and other tea party issues - he said " gays are sick people and we just have to put up with them "

world is full of greedy dudes and ray hall and michael ennis are 2 beauts ...
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2skeptic
4:52 PM on March 12, 2011
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gay "writes" what the f is that?
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Hetfield
5:51 PM on March 12, 2011
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Flying a plane is golfing??

Overpaid?

gay writes?

What the F are you on?
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etgbc
6:13 PM on March 12, 2011
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Sure you could. 60,000 $ years of gaining experience. going througfh a tuff hiring process and many hrs more with the airline and you just might make it. There is so much more than just flying the airplane!
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ChangeAgent
4:27 PM on March 12, 2011
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He is an example of the spoiled baby boomers who believe everything revolves around themselves.
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andre1958
5:14 PM on March 12, 2011
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I fail to see your argument.

A baby Boomer
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detalumis
5:39 PM on March 12, 2011
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"doth protest too much, methinks". Only people more self-absorbed than the boomers are the boomer-spawn.
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Redness
5:56 PM on March 12, 2011
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A better headline would have been "Man thinks rules shouldn't apply to him."

This isn't news, this happens every day. Get over yourself and enjoy your retirement FFS.
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jjockey
5:17 PM on March 12, 2011
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Simple fact is that the seniority system is a bit of a pyramid scheme. If you're lucky enough to make it to the top, then you reap all the rewards. Those that don't make it to the top don't have nearly as nice a life.
This guy made it to the top, and now he wants to stay there. Started at AC at 21, he was one of the golden children.
If he really just wants to fly airplanes, there are lots of opportunities for some great flying on the domestic routes. Oh wait, that's not what he really wants to do after all.
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DLarmer
4:34 PM on March 12, 2011
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$10,000 a month pension plus $150,000 a year for turkish airline = $270,000 per year so he losses out on picking where to fly and when, plus double dip benifits.

Boo-hoo i feel so sad.
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etgbc
4:06 PM on March 12, 2011
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As a retired pilot I know the vast majority of my peers are not in favour of going past 60. We all deteriate as we get older and personally I think that this is a younger persons profession rather than an older person. There are a few greedy pilots out there and most likely they have been that way for a long time. They are the types that book off at Christmas ect. Ennis likey does not have a life outside flying! Move over and let the next pilots advance as they did for you!
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1:53 PM on March 12, 2011
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SaturnBattery
5:59 PM on March 12, 2011
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Am I supposed to feel sorry for this guy? He'll make more in 1 month WHEN HE RETIRES than I make in 4. You should have chosen a story about a guy who'll barely make ends meet after he is forced into early retirement. Poor little rich guy doesn't really generate a lot of empathy.
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anti-estab
5:45 PM on March 12, 2011
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Some major airlines still retire their pilots at an earlier age due to the more long-haul nature of the airlines' route network. KLM pilots retire at 56 with the option up to 60 if you decide to fly part time after your 40th birthday.
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Bill Robertson
8:32 PM on March 12, 2011
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Which just proves the point that age has no bearing on the question.
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West Coast Todd
4:55 PM on March 12, 2011
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“I’m in good shape. Everybody says I don’t look like I’m turning 60, for sure.”

Dude, there just being nice!
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SHB
3:47 PM on March 12, 2011
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Why is the safety aspect of this not discussed? The 777's carry a lot of people. Sure they are automated but if I'm paying for a pilot up there, I want one that's in top health.
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andre1958
3:52 PM on March 12, 2011
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Agreed, you would not want one in the cockpit whose pacemaker is being affected by the navigation system.
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S Lucht
2:52 PM on March 12, 2011
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$10K a month pension? Sweet!

He's flying with Turkish Airlines. He could fly cargo or private if he wanted to, and often those pilots fly well beyond age 60.

Yes, it's always good optics when you start fighting for your rights when you're at the top of the heap, and stood quietly by while your predecessors adhered to the terms of their contract. Terms which weren't a secret when you or they agreed to them.

Me me me me.
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DerFlieger
12:03 PM on March 12, 2011
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These pilots are not forced to retire at sixty, but rather had agreed every year of their 30 plus year career to leave Air Canada. They are free to work elsewhere as Capt Ennis has chosen to do.
The agreement to retire at sixty was known to these people when they signed on, and they chose not to address it all these years. They also never raised the issue within the union that represents all the pilots. Instead they seized the opportunity presented by the Americans to sue for this "right". You see, until 9/11 all major airlines has a out at sixty clause because the US didn't allow you to fly into their airspace after that. Following 9/11 many of the US carriers went through bankruptcy and their pension plans failed (which US pilots do not contribute to, unlike AC pilots). Suddenly these senior pilots were scrambling - they successfully lobbied to have the age restriction changed so they could chase the money. Before that, the point was moot.
This movement in Canada IS opportunitic. These people want to sit at the top ad infinitum and are perverting "human rights" to achieve their goal. What about the rights of those below them? We negotiated this clause in good faith; now we're suffering harm to satisfy their ego and greed.
Jazz/Chorus lets pilots fly past 60 - the majority are on long term medical leave. Of the two pilots CHRT forced AC to take back, one is now on medical leave. How are you supposed to schedule around that? Why should the younger pilots be saddled with the significantly higher risk of incapacitation while their careers are stalled by the same people?!

He has had his time, he has earned lots of money and he has a great pension, it's time to step aside for the next generation.

The baby-boom generation fell ass-backwards into great jobs with golden pensions that they don't appreciate and now it's up to the next generation to move these old folks out to the pasture.
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dh_43
5:30 PM on March 12, 2011
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that sums it up beautifully. This guy is a classic baby boomer got a great job at 21 and stayed for life. That just doesn't happen any more. He should be forced to get out now, he's merely clogging the system up for younger people behind him.
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Strat_Fender
7:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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Seems to be a perception these days that an employer has an obligation to give you something to do in your retirement years.. How about collecting your pension, choose a new career path and allow the younger worker a shot at their first chosen career.. Don't be so damn selfish!!
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pilotguy
7:06 PM on March 12, 2011
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I am a commercial pilot [duh, check username ] and though I won't mention what airline I work for (one of the big two) I think this guy is being selfish and trying to "move the goalposts" after the game has started, so to speak.

This dude started at 21, straight outta flight school (try THAT today!) and benefited his ENTIRE career from guys pulling the pin @60, now all of a sudden when it's his turn, he wants to change things up so he can keep his plush sked and ca$hflow, thus severely delaying the career progression of those lower on the totem pole.

I'm pretty sure that unless he was a total knob with money, he has no mortgage left and kids who are done university or close to it. Meanwhile the younger guys making a fraction of his wage are just starting out their families with mortgages, kids etc.

This is being selfish, plain and simple. You knew the rules going in, you had AMPLE opportunity to change the retirement age through negotiation (82% of AC pilots are AGAINST raising it because they KNOW it's eating their young) but you never did.

Move over, enjoy your retirement, and have a turkish coffee for me (but you better hope they don't read the Globe over there or you might be sharing some quiet flight decks).
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Bill Robertson
8:25 PM on March 12, 2011
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Please update your comments when you're 60
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WHouse
4:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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I wouldn't be too surprised if this dude gets a free AC pass for the rest of his life, for him and the missus.

Can you spell GREED?
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Ohcrap
4:30 PM on March 12, 2011
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If it gets rid of the air hag flight attendants, then I am all for it. Their sense of entitlement is unbelievable, much like the Air Canada attitude in general.
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jgoods
3:11 PM on March 12, 2011
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He should take his case to the Human Rights Tribunal; they'll let him work to 150 and give him half the airline for his troubles!
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Headnotinthesand
7:02 PM on March 12, 2011
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Greed, greed and more greed. Shame.

If you want to fly for AC donate half of your salary (to charity or younger pilots)
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get_real
6:36 PM on March 12, 2011
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Air Canada doesn't want pilots flying past 60, and the vast majority of the pilots don't want the rules changed to go past 60. It's just a few greedy me me me people.
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threebears4
3:03 PM on March 12, 2011
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This guy should buy his own wee plane, pay for his own petrol to fly it, and keep out of his wife's hair that way. Then he could fly where ever and whenever he likes... just like he does now. Oh yes, but it would be on his own nickel.
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varun xm
2:39 PM on March 12, 2011
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i support the quest to work beyond 60 but that's the price one pays for collective bargaining and heck! that gilt edged pension plan is part. the pilot knew the deal when he signed on.
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Confused Philosopher
8:30 AM on March 12, 2011
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I appreciate that older workers have a lot to contribute.

When we look at this situation, it is not really a question of "forced retirement", except from Air Canada. He is able to pursue an activity he loves at good pay with another airline. This a perfectly reasonable situation. Without the forced retirement from Air Canada at 60, pilots with A/C will not have received the good salaries over their career with A/C, especially in their 50's. The collective agreement allows pilots with A/C to earn these very attractive salaries. If he does not want to be apart of it, well he shouldn't have signed up in the first place.

Any how, I wish him best of luck in his new job. He sounds like a superb pilot.
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TorontoMike
6:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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When a commuter plane crashed in the states killing all on board, several news articles described how major airlines throw the regional work to associate airlines but don't pay well for it. The result is that commuter airlines paid their pilots very little which in turn resulted in inexperienced pilots working long hours.

This story and the teachers union reminds me that there are deep inequalities in many professions. People with seniority make tons of money while less experienced folks can't even get their careers started.
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Bill Robertson
8:28 PM on March 12, 2011
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You've hit it bang-on the for the current trend inthe avitaion industry. Two grossly overworked and underpaid pilots made critical mistakes that caused the Buffalo crash two years ago. If AC has it's way all it's pilots will likewise be overworked and underpaid. There's much to be said for having at least one well paid and experienced pilot at the controls of any irpplane carrying fare-paying passengers.
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overthehill
5:09 PM on March 12, 2011
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When it came to retirement I loved my work.
It was a great adjustment to make , personally .

BUT I HAD "MY TIME". Seeing younger people (with families) taking over DID NOT BOTHER ME....I WAS GLAD FOR THEM.

I may have my faults, but I am NOT a selfish old pri ck
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WHouse
4:39 PM on March 12, 2011
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Same thing happens with other professions, such as teaching. The money's too good to give up, so the old dogs keep working, and working, and working.

OTOH, who could live on a pension of only $10,000 a month? LOL.

This guy is either very greedy, or full of himself. Either way, his wife's likely glad that he'll be flying from Istanbul starting May 2/11. He is likely a p-i-t-a to live with.
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get_real
6:32 PM on March 12, 2011
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I must disagree with you, you said he is either very greedy OR full of himself. I say he is greedy AND full of himself.
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Snowed in in Barrie
9:00 PM on March 12, 2011
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Buddy, get a life. Do you have no intersts outside of counting your money?
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A Humble Man
9:18 PM on March 12, 2011
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You`ve made your millions. Take a break and let a younger kid have some experience and make some money to support his family.
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catfish8888
12:29 PM on March 12, 2011
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Go talk to some young pilots who are facing all sorts of challenges getting on the career ladder - a senior pilot such as this chap is making gobs of money and pension and tieing up Air Canada salary and benefits that should be better distributed among new, junior pilots. If he wants to continue working then his job at Turkish Airlines is just the ticket.

I know a young pilot who has just started a new job - his salary is significantly less than Canada's average industrial wage for a job that has taken years of school and training and working up the ladder. He'd love to have the chance to work for Air Canada - he'll get there more quickly if these senior pilots move gracefully aside.
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overthehill
5:26 PM on March 12, 2011
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You get these greedy, selfish, old "individuals"(said politely) in many fields; Airline pilots, judges, doctors,senators. Just too self centered .Those of "like minded" thinking(?) support them of course.
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ALASTAIR JAMES BERRY
1:02 PM on March 12, 2011
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Personally, I would take RETIREMENT , anytime , before work .... I retired at 53 and never looked back ... and I agree you cannot argue from the single to the general, but that is the way I look at it ... (best thing I ever did ... and I'm 81 now)

Be your own BOSS ... Forget all the work place B.S. ... relax and take it easy for 11 months of the year ... (The weather on Maui is sunny and warm today)

11 months ? YES APRIL WILL BE HELL ... working out your T # 1 GENERAL TAX RETURN ... it is far more complicated after retirement ...
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William Doyle
7:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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He knew the rules now it is only right that he has to comply.
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Ken Berger
7:23 PM on March 12, 2011
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I weep crocodile tears for this man. He has to take a job now for 130,000 when he was making 230,000 working for Air Canada. He was overly paid in the first place and now his nose is out of joint because he had to retire from Air Canada with a 10,000 per month pension. Cut off his pension and let him fly for Turkish Airlines.
7:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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Buy a Super Cub on floats and start living. With the amount of retirement money he will receive, he could move up to a Beaver or something of that nature.
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detalumis
6:46 PM on March 12, 2011
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Even though he knew about this date for the last 40 years and he has a fantastic pension he still thinks his life is over if he stops working. In 5 years I guess he will find out if that is the case or not.
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RBenstein
6:58 PM on March 12, 2011
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Not many people are going to be on your side, Mike.

One major point: what does a healthy 60-year old who has been doing the same job since he was 21 do at the point of retirement ? Many men are at a loss as to what to simply do with themselves. Many divorces and heart attacks occur with newly retired people.

I can sympathize with him on this, but perhaps he could start thinking about other interests when 65 hits.
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D_T1
6:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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If pilots are allowed to fly after they turn 60, they may flight again if they BELIEVE they are still fit to fly. Where is the end.

For the sake of flight safety, pilots should retire at 60. These pilots know so well from the beginning that they will retire at 60. If they think they are so right, they should have fought this rule when they were much younger.

SELFISH!!
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2skeptic
5:10 PM on March 12, 2011
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Wow. The claws sure come out when you find out what someone else's pension is!

Miaow.
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JonBraun
4:42 PM on March 12, 2011
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We new pilots want into the business as well. I'm gonna be 60 before I even get a job at Air Canada if they keep raising the retirement ages.

And too all those passengers out there. Do you really want a senior citizen flying your plane?
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dh_43
5:54 PM on March 12, 2011
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i wonder if this has anything to do with air Canada drifting in and out of bankruptcy protection every ten years or so?
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get_real
6:22 PM on March 12, 2011
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No, it has to do with Westjet being subsidized by the Alberta government giving them free jet fuel.
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JMurray1
3:51 PM on March 12, 2011
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I recall a pilot at Northwest Airlines in MSP in the early 1950s, "Deke" Delong, retiring at 65 years of age. He ended up flying DC-3s exclusively MSP-Winnipeg. Shortly afterwards the age of retirement was set at 60 years by U.S. government decree. Canada must have followed.
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West Coast Todd
4:53 PM on March 12, 2011
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Dude that was like 60 years ago... what are you talking about?
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Canadian in Thailand
4:29 PM on March 12, 2011
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This man could become a first. I have yet to hear of a person who retires and says he/she wishes they could have worked an extra few years, myself included.

If you don't have the money, ahhhh, that's a different situation.

So Captain, if you don't manage to keep some younger pilot from getting your job, com'on down and we'll have a sundowner together while I explain the ropes to you.
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Deryk
11:02 AM on March 12, 2011
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Am a two million miler, with that said, Pilots are my choice for the number 1 profession for respect. With that said, this gentlemen has his views, however he is part of a very strong union, and therefore his union, would have to champion this cause. Airlines of course like it when someone earning top dollar, with benefits, leaves their payroll. Word has it, new pilots make very little. I like gray hair in the cockpit, and only hope the medical profession, has some valid input, who should and who should not, pilot a plane. There are of course always two of them up there.
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nice_try
12:04 PM on March 12, 2011
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Deryk:
His union, ACPA, is not "championing" his cause. ACPA, and the majority of AC pilots want to keep the retirement age at 60. The only ones who want it to change are the greedy ones who are about 56 and older, and who never said a peep for their whole careers while others were being "forced" to retire ahead of them. I would have had some respect for these guys if they actually spoke up in their 40s, but look at this clown Mike Ennis. He waited until he is 50 DAYS from retirement.
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69buick
6:39 PM on March 12, 2011
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Can you imagine a 60 year old trying to hang onto a job he has worked at all his life?

What a crazy world we live in!
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benner
5:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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And this sums up in a nutshell why the public hates the unions!

a) This guy pulls down $230k a year for babysitting a computer 8 days a month.
b) The entire system is base on seniority, so there is no incentive to be good at your job
c) It forces a basically fully trained, fully able person not to work any more.
d) The pension is better than 95% of peoples wages and kicks in at 60 (more?)

What a complete display of mismanagement of resources, both human and capital.
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RBenstein
7:03 PM on March 12, 2011
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a) flying an airplane sounds like nothing until the said airplane, or computer system malfunctions and the pilot is charged with the job of saving the lives of everyone on board.
Can happen any day, any time, any point of the flight and for any reason

Don't try it at home, Benner.
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Bill Robertson
8:31 PM on March 12, 2011
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I'm sure these are all the thoughts you feel, until you're in the air, in trouble, and you're praying to God to have this guy save your@$$ - at which time his age and how much he makes will be of no consequence to you
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etgbc
8:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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wow! must be a loser. The union does not want this. I Guess it's your public not mine!
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JohanGK
4:56 PM on March 12, 2011
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Gee... some of the comments here are so typically Canadianl!! Secondly, I am not sure that the author of this article clearly articulated the central issue.

The fact is, on this issue, Air Canada is grossly out of step with what's happening in the rest of the world. Retirement ages of the worlds' largest airlines....

British Airways 65
American Airlines 65
US Airways 65 (remember Sulley... I'd feel comfortable hearing his voice from the cockpit)
Continental Airlines 65
Lufthansa 65
Nipon 65
WESTJET 65

... I could go on!
ps. Canada has a great health care system..but you know what.. It's not THE BEST IN THE WORLD!
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overthehill
5:18 PM on March 12, 2011
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Airline pilots, judges, doctors.senators
Some would "hang on" until they dropped in the saddle.
This boils down to selfishness...nothing more. There is lots to keep one occupied after one retires.
Where are you going to draw the line?

The only reason why retiring later, is encouraged, is to reduce pension plan
obligations nothing else.
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get_real
6:27 PM on March 12, 2011
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What does any of these have to do with Air Canada? If they want to retire at 60, as they have negotiated who are you greedy pigs to try to change the rules to suit a few at the expense of the rest.
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Bill Jackson Jr
4:32 PM on March 12, 2011
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What really matters is whether his performance will decline beyond age 60. Historically, I suspect it would, but with modern health care and exercise, many 60 year olds are better able to perform than those much younger. I am not at all surprised to see the union abandon him - typical collectivist behaviour.

I am a faculty member. We used to have mandatory 65 retirement in Ontario. McGuinty abandoned it, as I think he should have. However, there should be mandatory performance assessment at 65 (and perhaps other ages too) if the faculty members seeks to stay on. As it is, the deadwood is not leaving now, universities are get hit with higher salaries, and a hiring freeze in consequence. What a mess. I have no problem with allowing stellar teachers and researches to keep going, just as I would with pilots. Base the decision on performance, not age.
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Bill Robertson
4:42 PM on March 12, 2011
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This whole age thing is nothing more than BS based on the 1940's. Aviation today is highly technical and highly monitored, as are the crews both for medical and proficiency reasons. If they fail their medical or proficiency at any age they should be out. As long as they maintain medical and proficiency they should be in, if they want to. I'd rather be flying with guys upfront who have experience, know how to think, and do math in their heads without resoting to calculators for numbers over 10. Sully Sulenberger didn't put that crate in the Hudson and save everyone because he had no experience, I'll take the guys like Sully, or the Bob Pearson's of the world, over the young kids any day when the going gets tough.
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West Coast Todd
4:50 PM on March 12, 2011
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But if you have well qualified younger people, why keep an old person around?
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2skeptic
4:57 PM on March 12, 2011
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Let's see if I can state it simply for you:

experience
calm in the face of emergency
deal with any possible air situation
able to communicate appropriately with air controllers

and oh yeah, in case the entire cockpit goes haywire...are able to do a few calculations in their head to get the fricken plane down safely!
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get_real
6:30 PM on March 12, 2011
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If Sully was a little younger he could have missed the birds.
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Masdar
7:21 PM on March 12, 2011
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If the pilot in question meets the medical requirements commiserate with his rating it clearly a discriminatory policy on the part Air Canada to require that the pilot retire at age sixty. However having said this, perhaps Air Canada could create a position for those pilots that wish to retain their seniority, after the mandatory retirement age, without taking space up in the left seat.
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North of You
5:48 PM on March 12, 2011
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MPs and senators and heads of state have no retirement age. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. So if he still can pass the ride….let him fly to his heart’s content until his medical expires I say.
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B_.
5:35 PM on March 12, 2011
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We already have many more pilots than we used to because they insist upon flying these little dinky toy "less than 100 seat" jets everywhere. Seniority must have been a lot bigger issue years ago when the smaller planes were the 737.

If the industry standard is 65, then it should be 65, end of story.
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BCopes
11:42 AM on March 12, 2011
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While this guy's complaint is absolutely based on selfish reasons, Air Canada should reconsider their retirement age. I'm only young, but I have no desire to retire at 60. Lifespans are increasing. It is not unfathomable for a healthy person forced to retire at 60 to spend 25 - 30 years in retirement. Who wants to do that? As a young person I'd much rather let him work then pay for his retirement.

Retirement ages are going to need to be increased as more and more people find that they are healthy at 60 and are living until 85 - 90. Hell, in two decades I would imagine the number of people hitting 100 will skyrocket.

As I said, while I think this guy is acting quite selfish, the overall argument of retirement age is one that should absolutely be looked at.
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A_G1
4:01 PM on March 12, 2011
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Lifespans have indeed increased over the years, however, economic needs have arisen which greatly benefit from the 60 yr old person retiring.

I think if a person at age 60 can afford to get by on their pension, they should endeavour to do so.

(And I certainly think $10K/mo is more than enough!)
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Stoneywalker
8:38 PM on March 11, 2011
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I think that he should be allowed to stay working provided he meets the health standard and he should be allowed all the seniority he has earned . These conditions should however come at a price. The price should be that his salary or compensation should be set at the equivalent value of his retirement income. After all that is what he agreed to in his contract . He can't have it both ways.
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Battling Ignorance
10:31 PM on March 11, 2011
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I understand there are also problems with other countries gov'ts. Many don't allow a Captain to be over 60, others only one crew can be over 60. It would create a complex situation, he is #1 & can pick his flights...what do you do when #2 also wants those flights & they are both over 60.
The first time one of them suffers a heart attack at the controls will end all the discussion.
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DerFlieger
12:07 PM on March 12, 2011
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That in fact was offered to them...but they want it all.

[CD]

Good on Transport Canada for keeping the age 60 rule and not cowtowing to modern ageism politics like the rest of the world-especially Europe!

Just as a point of information, Transport Canada (the CAA) does not have an upper age-limit for pilots...

[carholme]

Good on ya CD!

Glad to see you are still kicking around and providing quality facts.

Gerry