| Probably one of the most contentious issues of | | | | adjournment of the 109th Congress. |
| recent times in the aviation community is the | | | | Whilst, both bills died a standalone death, they |
| proposed changes to the age 60 rule. As most of | | | | received a much needed boost by their incorporation |
| the readers will be aware, age 60 is a mandatory | | | | as amendments into the Transportations |
| retirement age for pilots involved in the part 121 | | | | Appropriations Bill, HR 5576. Generally, these money |
| airline environment. Representations and pressure | | | | bills are voted and passed in the house before |
| groups from both ends of the age spectrum have | | | | moving into the second phase of review in the |
| recently been engaged in open warfare to influence | | | | Senate. While in review in Senate Sub Committee the |
| the change in legislation to their specific sides benefit. | | | | S 65 changes where added to the appropriations bill. |
| In early 2005, the republican senator for Nevada | | | | However, due to the election the money bill was |
| introduced a bill, HR 65, which dealt with altering the | | | | never voted upon and therefore ceased when the |
| retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65, so as | | | | 109th congress adjourned in December 2006. Rather |
| to be inline with ICAO rules. The resolution was then | | | | than pass these appropriations bills congress choose |
| referred to the House Committee on Transportation | | | | to pass a continuing resolution which allowed the |
| and infrastructure which was chaired by Rep. Don | | | | federal government to fund their agencies until Feb |
| Young. Subsequently HR 65 was then referred to the | | | | 15th, 2007. |
| Sub Committee on Aviation which falls under the | | | | So as it stands, the amendments remain within the |
| jurisdiction of the Transportation committee. There | | | | appropriations bill and must be addressed by the |
| was indeed no hearings ever conducted on HR 65 | | | | 110th Congress whether individually or rolled up into a |
| nor were any recommendations tendered to the | | | | single bill called an omnibus bill. As the balance of |
| House Committee on Transportation. Thats basically | | | | power in Congress has changed its unlikely that the |
| where the resolution remained all through 2006 until | | | | Democrat led Senate would choose to keep any |
| the 109th Congress adjourned in December. | | | | controversial amendments in the appropriations bill |
| Further to the above, a bill entitled S 65 was | | | | lest it cause the delay of federal funding for their |
| sponsored in the Senate which was then referred to | | | | agencies. Having said that, there is tremendous |
| the relevant committee for consideration. On the | | | | pressure from both sides of the age divide to |
| 19th July 2005, the committee met and convened a | | | | influence the proceedings. |
| hearing to consider the issue. Representations from | | | | It's difficult to argue with the plight of the lower end |
| many pressure groups such as, FAA, Aerospace | | | | of the seniority list, having been restricted from the |
| Medical Association, Airline Pilots Association, SWAPA, | | | | usual career progression by a number of factors |
| Allied Pilots Association, and Jetblue Airways | | | | including 911 and the vicious airline bankruptcies. Any |
| Corporation were heard and evaluated by the | | | | change to the age 60 rule would surely delay their |
| committee members. On the 17th of November the | | | | captain upgrades by at least 5 years and cost untold |
| committee ruled and acquiesced to support the | | | | thousands in lost career earnings. The alternative side |
| change to mirror the ICAO regulations. Following the | | | | of the argument is that age 60 is discriminatory and |
| above procedure, the bill was released from | | | | that pilots may very well be medically capable of |
| committee and placed upon the Senate Legislative | | | | pursuing the left seat until age 65. |
| Calendar. | | | | Irrespective of your viewpoint, it is imperative that |
| This is the point that many bills perish before even | | | | ALPA brings all pilots, regardless of seniority, together |
| making it to the floor as the responsibility lays with | | | | on this issue. As surely a hotbed issue such as this will |
| the Senate Majority leader to determine which bills | | | | only be detrimental to any alliance that currently |
| are addressed by the that session of the Senate. | | | | exists between the different pilot groups and airline |
| The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Frist never | | | | management most definitely does not require |
| determined a date for the hearing of the bill and that | | | | another issue to play wedge politics with. |
| is where the bill remained until perishing with the | | | | |