Exactly. It’s easy to talk that noise now, but very few people are walking away from an extra 2-4 million for work that isn’t very taxing. Not saying nobody does, but airlines aren’t losing a bunch of 50-55 year olds every year to anything other than medical loss.
US Senate panel votes to reject hiking pilot retirement age
- Thread starter Ian_J
- Start date
///AMG
Well-Known Member
I agree it is most likely not the norm at all. It would take a different outlook on life than many have, to make that decision. Especially for the folks who suffered through the bad times, or folks who were stuck at regionals at regional pay for many years......for some, there is a need to make up for lost time. But to Cherokee's point, I hope that I am fortunate enough to make that decision by my late 50's (specifically 59, when I would have 20 years, get the retiree travel benefits/etc). But one ideal that is rational for one person, might make little sense for others, given differing life situations.
That all being said, I do think it is good that this legislation was killed. It was gonna be bad for a lot more people than it was gonna be good for.
The healthcare is the big issue for me, even if you can “afford” to retire early. You don’t qualify for Medicare until 65, and most of the plans I’ve seen on the marketplace are garbage.
///AMG
Well-Known Member
Valid point. I'm on the military/tricare system, so something I hadn't thought of. Probably a bigger deal than a few extra hundreds of thousands or millions in a retirement account for a lot of folks that age.
tcco94
Future GTA VI Pilot
Don’t sell yourself short Derg!!! We love you here don’t get me wrong but I’m always willing to move up a number early if you’re willing! Let’s click the send button together
/sarcasm
arkflyr
Well-Known Member
One of the things we have kept on this contract is the ability to trade accumulated sick time for insurance at a rate of 1 month for 10TFP. Starting at age 55 if you have had at least 15 years of service and at age 60 for everyone else. So the magic number is 600 which is about a third of what we can have in our bank.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
roundout
VNAV monitor
But how will I make my corvette, boat, vacation house, and alimony payments on only 15k/month?
Ian_J
Hubschrauber Flieger
Those are nearly the exact reasons I hear guys in their early 60s not wanting to retire at 65. I mean… Shouldn’t all that crap be paid off by now?
Baronman
Well-Known Member
None offered. I’m just a sucker line pilot that flys 75 hours month after month since I started here. Just brutal. Broken planes, hour + delays just as normal ops…this place has sapped the life out of me.
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
As to health care and retirement age. When the age changed from 60 to 65, the IPA was able to negotiate keeping the age to receive retirement benefits at 60, since that's where it was in the contract, and for retired pilots to be able to stay with the IPA health plan if desired but pay out of pocket. I think mine is $550/mo. At age 65, that terminates and you go on Medicare. I guess we had a good deal. I never knew how it worked elsewhere but health bene's are certainly a big deal.
Cherokee_Cruiser
Bronteroc
Ian_J
Hubschrauber Flieger
Yeah… it sometimes makes me want to upgrade just so I can fly with younger folks who have not ruined their lives yet. Sometimes…
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
We've spent a fair amount of negotiating capital over the past 10 years towards that end. Right now, normal retirement is still 60 (and earlier if you meet some longevity requirements), and you keep your active employee health insurance plan (at the same rate you've been paying) until Medicare eligibility. That way guys are covered, even if the government pushes Medicare access back.
roundout
VNAV monitor
I suspect this will become more commonplace in our industry as us young folk get older.
Screaming_Emu
Joe Conventional
It is life changing. I’m not a bubbly extrovert, but most everyone has been so much more positive since I’ve upgraded. Plus, my jokes are funnier.
I have a very small sample size since I'm finishing up Captain OE, but there's a lot of truth to this. On my last two trips the LCAs were both area code seniority and we picked up junior FOs as relief pilots for the international portion of the trips. Both of the LCAs were excellent and very enjoyable to fly with, but in both cases when I was up front by myself with the FO, they were ecstatic to fly with someone close to their age, talking about things they could relate to, and that wasn't constantly angry at something.
Hopefully the energy will stay the same once I'm out on the line without adult supervision. At my seniority I'll mostly be flying with newhires. Granted I personally haven't had too many problems with boomer stereotypes as an FO because I'm pretty good at changing the subject, but it does take a lot of energy especially with the ones that are dying to find a way to start talking politics or complain about "kids these days".
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
Totally off topic... you guys are able to run OE on augmented flights as a three pilot crew? We are required to run 4 pilots because the OE pilot isn't checked out yet and as such can't be at the controls without a check pilot in the other seat. That even applies in the case where the pilot is still technically right seat (and hence RO) qualifed.
Ian_J
Hubschrauber Flieger
Same here. And those trips become very desirable to pick up because of the extra break length.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
Over here the original FO tends to get salty when it happens because they lose their landing. But yes, long breaks are nice, unless the Check Pilot is a dick and splits it 1/4 - 1/2 - 1/4 so they can observe the OE candidate coasting in and coasting out. (ask me how I know...)
