I believe an experienced commercial pilot makes around 200K? If I’m 50 have no professional skills except being a commercial airline pilot, what kind of work do I qualify for that has comparable pay?
> The issue is losing the level of income they make (more than any safety net could pay)
Why can’t this be solved by a tool like insurance? It only needs to cover something like like 80% of the career earnings of people who would be removed for mental health reasons up to the mandatory retirement age of 67, minus early retirement benefits if any.
Unless they are a huge number of pilots that would be removed for mental reasons, it seems affordable to me.
I agree insurance is probably the best way, but even that doesn't help with the purpose and social status part, which I think are the largest factors. Plus if the insurance covers career advancement losses the incentives become really adverse, if it doesn't there's still massive economic losses.
I think any solution would also need a way to get back in. No need to lose everything because you had a bad time once.
Fair concern, I think we can screen for people faking it for money. Also, in these situations the payout is usually somewhat less than you would earn working.
I get that the end of a career you worked your life for is really hard, but unfortunately it's not an uncommon experience and being a pilot is not a right. A payout for a significant portion of your future earnings is far more than most get in that situation.