Won't be 23 by the August 2013 cut off

Short story.. I'm at a regional. Bout off probation.. Already took and passed the probation ride. I like my company and don't plan on leaving.... but I will not be 23 by the ATP cutoff date. Some ALPA training committee guys are talking about the struggle for an exception to the ATP age rule. I will have an 11 month gap between the date and my 23rd birthday..

Should I wait it out and see if an exception will come out? I meet all hourly requirements, XC, PIC etc etc..

Make military plans? I will have my degree by this May and have already been visiting Guard units.. Wouldn't mind enlisting either.

Should I just go teach CPT or sim? (That's the go-to for the company I think) So many people keep telling me different things to do. I definitely don't want to stop working..

Advice? Thoughts?

If the company will park you in the training department (or almost anywhere else) for 11 months and you can hold on to your seniority number, then that is what I would do.

I'm assuming that you have the times, and the ATP written done.

I have the times and I turn 21 next month.. I will take the ATP written a few days after my birthday.. (21 is min. age for it)

You become a permanant bug washer.

Rest assured, you are going to get older just as quick as you can...

In all seriousness, there's a small (but nonzero) minority of current airline pilots who won't qualify for an ATP on or before 1 August 2013. I have no idea what will happen with them. I'd ask the union, actually.

The age/with the hours thing kind of has an easy solution. But it will definitely be interesting seeing what happens to guys that fall short of the hour requirement if they're on reserve and not making guarantee.

I uh, don't know anyone like that...

I feel like everyone is working their butts off these days..

Eh. Yeah. Mostly.

Well, CLEARLY hiring pilots off the street to replace then with no time in type can only add to flight safety!

I think you might find some folks who would argue for that, as long as those street hires had ATPs. Despite the fact that zero to 500 hours IN TYPE is statistically the most dangerous for any pilot.

Cognitive disconnect button, press and hold.

Not saying that isn't true, but can you point me to some numbers that bac that up?

Anecdotally, I have seen currency and aptitude as far better predictors of future performance. At least among accident pilots I have known personally.

This was in Redefining Airmanship, I'll have to dig a bit to give you the study itself. (I and that book are currently separated.)

Supposedly XE has one or two guys that might fall a little short by then. Supposedly.

Plan the rest of your life around what you do to make money. Can't lose!

The NPRM has a provision to provide a "Frozen ATPL" at age 21. You'll have an ATP, but won't be able to upgrade. I suggest reading the NPRM.

ME! I've gotta beg for flying these days...

Well that's merely a proposal. You can't bank on that in the final outcome.

Heard the young guys will keep seniority number, take a break and travel the world. Go to Dubai.