Sun, Mar 20, 2005
Backing Pilots Who Don't Want To Retire At 60
Twelve pilots asked the
Supreme Court to review their challenge of the "Age 60" rule that
has been in effect for more than 40 years. Southwest Airlines will
provide some backup, by filing a friend of the court brief
according to a report in TIME. The pilots are seeking a waiver to
enable them to keep flying.
"Times are changing," says Southwest spokesman Linda Rutherford.
"We are losing some really good pilots."
The rule was supposedly based on observing that physical and
mental abilities decline with age, and that there was no clear
testing procedure to eliminate unsafe pilots. It remains in place
despite studies showing that older pilots can still be capable.
Critics say that airlines like the rule because it gets rid of
their highest paid pilots.
The Air Line Pilots Association opposed the rule at first, but
helped their members adapt to the change. In 1980, they agreed to
support the rule. However, in September of last year, ALPA began
the process of reexamining the rule, and determining what would
happen if the rule would change. Their website says that ALPA will
continue to examine the issues and that their priority is the
"assurance of safe Operations."
Those who want the rule changed point out the stringent
standards that pilots must face. They receive two physical
examinations, check rides and recurrent training each year. "If
rigid enforcement of the age 60 rule ever served any valid
purpose—a doubtful proposition at best—it certainly
outlived its usefulness long ago," says Tony Bothwell, the attorney
representing the pilots' challenge.
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