Goal: Ward Off Crippling Wave Of Controller Retirements

The FAA, faced with what could be a crippling wave of retirements, is offering some controllers a chance to work beyond the mandatory retirement age of 56. Under a voluntary program instituted earlier this month, controllers can apply for waivers that would allow them to work until age 61.

A federal law in place since 1972 mandates controllers retire at 56. For most controllers, that will continue. But the career extension program would allow "exceptional" controllers to stay in the tower longer, perhaps fueling the debate over whether older controllers can do as good a job as their younger counterparts.

Perhaps surprisingly, a vice president for the controllers' union told the Washington Times this might not be a good idea. "The FAA says this could help with the staffing constraints. Changing the rule is a matter of expedience, and that concerns us," said NATCA Executive Vice President Ruth Marlin.

But a new report from the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute calls the mandatory retirement age into question. In the 1970s, federal officials said controller proficiency drops off when they reach their 40s and 50s. But now, Aerospace Medical experts say that research may be flawed. In the most recent study, research psychologist Dana Broach wrote previous studies "do not provide any evidence about ... what particular age, if any, controllers begin to lose proficiency. Overall, these studies are not persuasive in making the case that controllers lose proficiency with age."

The move has further support from folks like Stuart Matthews, president of the Flight Safety Foundation. He told the Times, as Americans continue to live longer, it only makes sense to allow controllers to work longer.

"I don't have any problem increasing the retirement age," he said.

Even more importantly, the idea of offering controllers age waivers so they can work beyond 56 has support on Capitol Hill.

"It's outdated and it's something that needed to be revised," said Congressman John Mica (R-FL), head of the House Aviation Subcommittee.

FMI: www.faa.gov