on the wires. the UN will most likely approve the age change from 60 to 65 . And if they go ahead the FAA will most likely follow after further review. Forgein airline pilots now can co-pilot if over 60 . If the FAA follows through if the pilot is over 60, the co-pilot would have to be under 60. Sounds o.k. with me?
It sounds ok to me too, but I wonder what effect it will have on recruitment and pay.
Right now, I wouldn’t recommend an airline career to a young person unless they were sure they would enjoy the flying so much they wouldn’t need a hobby (or other life). The quality of individual I want up front can make much more money, and simply buy their own plane for fun.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
FAA Considering Raising Pilots’ Retirement Age
By Leslie Miller
The Associated Press
The government is considering raising the mandatory retirement age for
airline pilots from 60 to 65, the Federal Aviation Administration said
Wednesday.
The agency said the change is prompted by the United Nations organization
that governs aviation, the International Civil Aviation Organization. ICAO
will increase the international standard to 65 on November 23.
FAA administrator Marion Blakey ordered a forum of airline, labor and
medical experts to recommend whether the United States should raise the age
limit.
Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, will co-chair
the group. He said the FAA is considering the change only because Congress
is likely to order it before the end of this year’s session.
“They definitely should not allow Congress to be dictating a safety rule,”
Woerth said.
ALPA, the largest pilots’ union, opposes changing the mandatory retirement
age, though Woerth said only a thin majority of pilots want to keep it. Some
pilots want the retirement age raised because they’ve lost their airline
pensions.
Woerth said ICAO didn’t analyze the safety impact of changing the retirement
age.
Under current international standards, foreign pilots older than 60 may fly
into the United States as co-pilots. When the ICAO change takes effect,
foreign pilots will be able to fly in the United States up to age 65, as
long as they’re accompanied by a co-pilot under 60 and they undergo medical
testing every six months.
The FAA forum has 60 days to report its findings.
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Looks like it’s a step closer to reality:
cnn.com/2007/US/01/30/faa.pi … index.html
My question is this: The union spokesman that is quoted as being in favor of the change is from Southwest. When was the last time WN was in bankruptcy? (You may have to read the article to see what I mean.)
What do you mean?
He didn’t say anything about Southwest being in bankruptcy nor anything about Southwest pilots losing their pensions. He was talking about airline pilots in general.
“Many pilots have taken huge penalties to their pensions, and this is a way to recoup some of that,” said Carl Kuwitzky, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, which has lobbied for the change.
Kuwitzky said many 60-year-old pilots enjoy their careers and are in excellent health.
“They want to continue to fly for a number of years,” Kuwitzky said.
No, he didn’t specifically say SWA was bankrupt, and I’m sure he was speaking on behalf of airline pilots in general, but the article sure seems to make an inference to suggest such. Read this in context:
QUOTE:“A lot of pilots want to work longer because their pensions were slashed after their airlines sought bankruptcy protection.”
VERY NEXT SENTENCE:" Many pilots have taken huge penalties to their pensions, and this is a way to recoup some of that," said Karl Kuwitzky, president of Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association, which has lobbied for the change."
It was odd placement of the previous remark and the quote I guess; it appeared to connect the two in my mind. (There’s your softball right over the plate, dami. Go ahead and swing.)
The part I highlighted above is what made me think he was speaking of airline pilots (actually, unionized airline pilots) as a whole group and not Southwest specifically.
Southwest Pilot’s Association only represents pilots for Southwest Airlines, not any others. However, I expect that he was trying to help out his comrades at other airlines who have seen their pensions reduced by more than half, their salaries come down significantly and the stock that they received in return for making these concession become worth very little.
[quote=“CAFlier”]
That’s what I said.
[quote=“damiross”]
That’s what I said.
[quote=“CAFlier”]
I remember an argument that started like this once. I think it was on a playground somewhere. 
There was a time when SWA pilots were considered low pay. Now they make 30-40% more than legacy pilots with much greater benefits (3-4 times the 401k matching/profit sharing). Also they called back their last furloughed pilots about 30 years ago.
I read that nearly 1800 pilots will be saved from retirement this year, and over 5,000 in the next five years. I have several friends who are young co-pilots who are pretty concerned about their seniority being set back. Its hard enough making 19K a year as a FO on a small regional, now they’ll have to wait even longer to move up the payscale.
Maid Marion has been quoted as saying that it will take two years or more to implement the change and pilots who reach 60 during that period will not be offered a waiver.