Retirement at 65 Proposal

[MidlifeFlyer]

This is a link to a Request for Comments the FAA published Tuesday in connection with a possible FAR amendment that would raise the mandatory retirement ager to 65.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2...6/E6-17851.htm

From the introduction to the notice:

==============================
SUMMARY: In November 2006, the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) will adopt an amendment to increase the ``upper age
limit'' for airline pilots up to age 65 provided another crewmember
pilot is under age 60. On September 27, 2006, Administrator Blakey
established an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on the Age 60 issue.
One of its tasks is to recommend whether the United States should adopt
the new ICAO standard. The FAA and the ARC are requesting comments from
the public about whether the FAA should adopt the ICAO standard and any
issues surrounding adopting or not adopting the standard.

DATES: Send your comments on or before November 15, 2006.
==============================

Comments may be made electronically at http://dms.dot.gov The Docket Number is FAA-2006-26139]

[SeanD]

I think this will happen.

[Aero_Engineer]

Originally Posted by SeanD

I think this will happen.

I really hope not!!

[Bandit_Driver]

Originally Posted by Aero_Engineer

I really hope not!!

I think they are going to have a lot of opposition from the airlines. They want the old guys off the payroll. Senior guys just cost too much...

[timeoff]

Not to mention that mainline pilots will see a nice five year pause in upgrades.

[surreal1221]

sigh, joy.

5 more years . . .

[kellwolf]

With the tossing out of pensions, I'm sure there are plenty of guys 59 years old that would like another 5 years to try to get back what they've had taken from them. I agree you shouldn't trust anyone but yourself for your retirement, but this has all happened in the past 5 years. It's kinda tough to recover when the rug is whipped out from underneath you that close to retirement.

That being said, I'm sure there will still be plenty of guys retiring BEFORE 65. I know some pilots at SWA that are just waiting for their profit sharing accounts to hit $XX and they're done. Couple of those guys are in their early 50s. I'd like to have the option NOT to work until I'm 65 if I can make it happen....

[Realms09]

To me, the biggest concern is health insurance. Medicare activates at 65, but you are forced to retire at 60. That's a 5 year gap of expensive, non-group (meaning they can exclude pre-existing conditions) private health insurance.