Bryan Bedford addresses House panel on pilot shortage

[Seggy]

@Seggy didn't you just finish telling me that you have heard from ALPA aeromedical people pilots fail to report issues because of fear of losing their medical.

.

Yes, the antidepressant drug rule changes, new DUI reporting requirements, and sleep apnea push are perfect examples of this.

Get off the 65 wagon and let's discuss that. I'm sure the FAA would be more than happy to do away with the age requirements so long as everyone played nice and gave them some accurate data. They slowed down on issuing LOI's and other discipline related letters once good ASAP programs started. I think we should start there.

You still aren't showing me the science that says if a pilot flies to 70 they will be dangerous behind a 121 cockpit.

 

[derg]

Which proves this point here....

I think I'd read that again and reeeeeeeeally think about what the data is saying.

The worst kept secret of the airline business is that the older you retire, the shorter you last.

I probably wouldn't make the attempt to presume that if a person never retires, a person will actually extend his life.

Again, some guys can handle flying longer. Unfortunately, a lot of us in our youth have a misty-eyed optimism about the health we'll be in as we get older when we heal slower and issues that would have been minor in the 20's are tragic in their 70's.

I wish I could cut and paste the first 500 people on the seniority list and show you age versus if they're listed as NBCSIC and SLOA. The numbers are somewhat skewed because the "South" guys are relatively younger (BK days of take your lump and run for the hills if you were 50-plus and qualified) and the "North) guys are relatively older (kept their pensions), so if you adjust for that, well, I don't know what else to reference beyond actual data and not Orange is the Black, I mean 70 is the new 50.

 

[z987k]

I, for one, love the new rest rules. When you're down in the meat grinder of a regional, they've been an absolute savior. Reduced rest and 16 hours of duty wasn't a limitation for the company, it was a goal.

Isn't the definition of a limitation a goal in aviation?

If your buddy in Herdon has any inkling on "Pulling a Prater" and extending the age limits, he will absolutely take a economic lack of interest in pursuing aviation which is manifesting itself into a staffing issue and multiply it ten-fold.

Devil's advocacy is a rich, zesty way to drive forum traffic, but please realize that it is a criminally stupid idea.

Admit it, you pay Seggy to stir crap up to drive traffic to collect millions and millions of internet dollars.

 

[SilkyD]

^^^^^ Not when you put the flaps up in a stall !!

However, isn't that the proper procedure if one believes they have a tail stall due to icing?(which from what it seems the Colgan crew thought had happened)?
Anybody please correct me if I am wrong (as I have never experienced a tail stall due to icing) but I assumed that is part of the recovery procedure (in addition to pulling back on the yoke to reduce the tail's AOA).
p.s. mods, sorry for the thread drift.

 

[derg]

Additionally, you can be a healthy 70, but not medically qualify for a first class medical.

I have a friend who passed medicals for years, sub-65 (but not much), but is medically retired because of dementia. And it's heart breaking as he's a hell of a pilot, a guy with a lot of good experience, but at the end of the day, well, it's time for a whittling stick, a pack of Beeman's and a great grandson to play with.

I don't care if you're stirring the pot or you're absolutely serious, but my fear is that some politico out there Googling is going to say, "Hey! Here's a great idea to solve our pilot shortage!" one line in a trailer bill, would cost zero money, fast tracked and voila.

 

[Seggy]

I think I'd read that again and reeeeeeeeally think about what the data is saying.

I don't know man. Looking at it there are a few ways to read it.

The worst kept secret of the airline business is that the older you retire, the shorter you last.

I probably wouldn't make the attempt to presume that if a person never retires, a person will actually extend his life.

Again, some guys can handle flying longer. Unfortunately, a lot of us in our youth have a misty-eyed optimism about the health we'll be in as we get older when we heal slower and issues that would have been minor in the 20's are tragic in their 70's.

I wish I could cut and paste the first 500 people on the seniority list and show you age versus if they're listed as NBCSIC and SLOA. The numbers are somewhat skewed because the "South" guys are relatively younger (BK days of take your lump and run for the hills if you were 50-plus and qualified) and the "North) guys are relatively older (kept their pensions), so if you adjust for that, well, I don't know what else to reference beyond actual data and not Orange is the Black, I mean 70 is the new 50.

Once again folks are more aware if the stresses fly does on your body. When you first started at the place you are at now did guys use sun screen, work out as they do now, have aircraft manufacturers design airplanes such as the 787 to create a healthy flying experience and say I may stay domestic to avoid the time zone changes? Yes there may be some outliers but folks are just being smarter about their careers and health.

 

[Seggy]

I don't care if you're stirring the pot or you're absolutely serious, but my fear is that some politico out there Googling is going to say, "Hey! Here's a great idea to solve our pilot shortage!" one line in a trailer bill, would cost zero money, fast tracked and voila.

I am being serious but fair enough.

I do agree that raising the retirement age WON'T fix any staffing issues.

 

[surreal1221]

Can someone point to the science that states that on the day when someone turns 65 they are medically unfit to be a Captain or First Officer of a commercial aircraft? I've flown with 64 year olds that are in better shape than most likely everyone who has posted in this thread.

I can NOT wait for when I can start thinking like that! Gosh darn, I hope I still have the receipt for the ladder I bought.

 

[derg]

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the document, the numbers are right there.

It's an interesting read though isn't it?

 

[Eagle421flyer]

You do realize that I had to stay at a regional 4 years longer due to 65?

I'm sure you're aware but your not the only one who has been negatively impacted by retirement. I have had the fun furlough of 9/11 and the stagnation of age 65. It's completely up to the folks flying if they want to fly to 65 (and of course if they can keep their medical), but I think they should know the statistics of what flying later in life will do to them.

 

[Seggy]

I'm sure you're aware but your not the only one who has been negatively impacted by retirement.

I am well aware of that. It was just to make clear to @Polar742 that his picture was uncalled for as I do remember vividly being stuck at a regional four years longer than I should have been when I 'signed up' for this career.

 

[Eagle421flyer]

Signed up? Where was it when you got your commerical that said you'd be a major in the near future? The only thing thats constant in this industry is that it changes. Yes when I decided to start flying I thought it would be great looking at all the pre 9/11 pay and benefits, now, well it is what is, and I love my job but this isn't what I "signed up" for either.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

I am well aware of that. It was just to make clear to @Polar742 that his picture was uncalled for as I do remember vividly being stuck at a regional four years longer than I should have been when I 'signed up' for this career.

Awe...poor fella

 

[surreal1221]

Awe...poor fella

Okay guys, we've had enough fun at Seggy's expense ... guess we should go back to accepting his world view as our own.

 

[Trip7]

Hey Bedford, raise first year pay to $50/hr. If you still don't have any pilots then go to the Hill

 

[Seggy]

Signed up? Where was it when you got your commerical that said you'd be a major in the near future? The only thing thats constant in this industry is that it changes. Yes when I decided to start flying I thought it would be great looking at all the pre 9/11 pay and benefits, now, well it is what is, and I love my job but this isn't what I "signed up" for either.

When I 'signed up' to fly for a living the retirement age was 60. It was changed, I got stuck at a regional longer than I would have been if it stayed at 60. Ok, fine, it happens. I made the best of the situation.

 

[ross9238]

So maybe a RAH first year FO can chime in whether they broke $30,000 last year because according to BB, that is the norm over at RAH.

 

[derg]

Hey Bedford, raise first year pay to $50/hr. If you still don't have any pilots then go to the Hill

"My $5 Footlong sales pitch is failing because I can't find professional sandwich artists! I know if I pay more and treat them, I'll get more workers, but I'd rather the government step in to get me workers. YAAAAR!"

Five.

Five dollar.

Five dollar flight creeeeeews…

Any any any.

 

[MikeD]

I'm actually thinking about leaving early again. Pre-BK I would have had my 25 years with a full pension at 53. But the lack of career progression of a shrunken mainline operation and stagnated career progression from Age-65, plus going from DINK to SINK for an extended period of time made 65 almost a necessity.

But looking at those figures today, ehh, what's the point of working my ass off to 65 only to turn around and kick the bucket a few years later. Even if I DO make it to 65. Hell, I'll be so jaded, what am I going to do, travel? Ha! Probably sit around the house, get bored and die. Might as well look into leaving while I still have my youth and at least survive a short foray into the moshpit.

Deep, alcohol-less thoughts on a sunny Thursday afternoon.

C-123 and C-7s at MZJ.....

 

[upup89]

Didn't know my representative wanted to repeal the new rest rules as he said in the video. Good to know.