captjns

I’m sure the same goes for baby sitting the child in the right seat.

Flyfalcons

One of the captains' duties is to supervise and mentor the first officer. When the first officer has to supervise the captain due to declining cognitive and physical ability, then it is the captain's responsibility to put pride aside and step down. Unfortunately there are those in aviation who will never let go of their pride, and the profession as a whole suffers for it.

badflaps

Always comforting to know someone is on senility patrol.

BMEP100

History repeating itself here, from the ‘90s. Same arguments, different players. Sorry but the reality of history is not on your side.

How many years now since the age increase, and how many plane loads killed by old men?

Swiiinnng ana misss.

rickair7777

That seems low, but even if it's correct that's the AVERAGE which includes a lot of folks who don't bother to take care of themselves. Most pilots will be above average in that regard.

ZapBrannigan

We can argue about cognition and physical fitness ad infinitum.

The problem for me is changing the rules in the middle of the game.

I believe it was an unconscionable act to raise the retirement age to 65 while thousands upon thousands of furloughed pilots remained on the streets. It delayed recalls by years and cost those pilots hundreds of thousands of dollars over their career. But what is done is done.

Due to the lost decade many of those pilots are only now getting close to upgrade, so raising the retirement to 67 or 70 would negatively impact the career progression of the SAME PILOTS who were screwed the first time around, delaying their upgrades and ultimately their career earnings.

If we decide it is best for the profession to allow pilots to fly to 67 or 70, then I submit that the only FAIR way to accomplish that goal is to start it on the day that legislation is passed, with all newhire pilots after that date. Existing pilots would be grandfathered - for better or for worse - and required to retire by age 65.

I know as a profession we tend to be greedy SOBs. But attacking the same group twice is dirty pool and will only serve to divide pilot groups at a time when unity could raise the bar for the entire profession.

As an alternative, I suggest those who retire consider giving back to the aviation community by returning to their roots and providing flight instruction to the next generation of pilots.




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WHACKMASTER

Couldn’t agree more with Zap regarding any age increase only applying to new-hires entering the 121 world post passage of any legislation.

Some made it through The Lost Decade relatively unscathed while others took a major beating. Let’s not kick them in the groin again.

MySaabStory

Haha. You must be a captain flying with young, fit first officers. Taking a look at our “older” group, I’m guess we are mostly BELOW the average.

rickair7777

Our lifestyle can certainly be worse than other white-collar professionals, but it's typically going to still be a lot better than the demographics which really drive the average longevity down.

But for most of us, unless you have garbage schedules and a crap commute you do have the time to be healthy if you so choose

Bluesideup1

You conclusion is only valid until it isn't and by then it is too late

So we should just keep rolling the dice until plane loads are killed by old men then walk the age back?

Do you think you can go on indefinitely as a Captain? When is the right age to ask them to leave? Can a 99 year old be a good Captain?

. Plus even now the right seater is usually far younger but shouldn't be the one acting as PIC when an old guy is too slow to handle things.