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A COMPARISON OF BENEFITS AND CONTRIBUTIONS--EASTERN AIR LINES PENSION PLAN AND A.L.P.A. PLAN.

The problem of airline pilots is how to get income for the long years of life ahead when they cannot be pilots any longer. While it is true that some exceptional men can be airline pilots after they are 50, for most 50 is a top age; and many will be disqualified before 50.

How long will pilots be able to fly? The present figures on pilots' ages give some answers. In April, 1947, there were 6,014 active pilots on the scheduled airlines. Only one of these was 60 or over; twelve others were more than 55 and 53 were between 50 and 55. In other words, on the basis of present figures, 9 pilots out of ten will be out by 50.

The number of pilots have been growing and most of the new ones have been young, so the present figures may underestimate the pilots remaining in service after 50. The major question in the letter of Pilot Peterson, to which this memorandum is an answer, concerns a pilot who is 39. So most of the figures in this memorandum are related to pilots aged 39. The April figures show that at 50 there were 3.1 percent as many pilots as at 39. The A.L.P.A. cost figures are based on an assumption that, over a period of years, there will be 50 present as many pilots aged 50 than there were pilots who are 39. Taking a whole five-year range, the April figures show 28 percent as many pilots in the age group 50-54 as there are at 39. The A.L.P.A. figures assume relatively about six times as many; that is that there will be 3 pilots who are 50 and under 55 for every 2 who are 39. Table A takes 1,000 active pilots at age 39 and shows how