Pilots Age 60 Where Is It Now

Probably one of the most contentious issues ofadjournment of the 109th Congress.
recent times in the aviation community is theWhilst, both bills died a standalone death, they
proposed changes to the age 60 rule. As most ofreceived a much needed boost by their incorporation
the readers will be aware, age 60 is a mandatoryas amendments into the Transportations
retirement age for pilots involved in the part 121Appropriations Bill, HR 5576. Generally, these money
airline environment. Representations and pressurebills are voted and passed in the house before
groups from both ends of the age spectrum havemoving into the second phase of review in the
recently been engaged in open warfare to influenceSenate. 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 NevadaHowever, due to the election the money bill was
introduced a bill, HR 65, which dealt with altering thenever voted upon and therefore ceased when the
retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65, so as109th congress adjourned in December 2006. Rather
to be inline with ICAO rules. The resolution was thenthan pass these appropriations bills congress choose
referred to the House Committee on Transportationto pass a continuing resolution which allowed the
and infrastructure which was chaired by Rep. Donfederal government to fund their agencies until Feb
Young. Subsequently HR 65 was then referred to the15th, 2007.
Sub Committee on Aviation which falls under theSo as it stands, the amendments remain within the
jurisdiction of the Transportation committee. Thereappropriations bill and must be addressed by the
was indeed no hearings ever conducted on HR 65110th Congress whether individually or rolled up into a
nor were any recommendations tendered to thesingle bill called an omnibus bill. As the balance of
House Committee on Transportation. Thats basicallypower in Congress has changed its unlikely that the
where the resolution remained all through 2006 untilDemocrat 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 waslest it cause the delay of federal funding for their
sponsored in the Senate which was then referred toagencies. Having said that, there is tremendous
the relevant committee for consideration. On thepressure from both sides of the age divide to
19th July 2005, the committee met and convened ainfluence the proceedings.
hearing to consider the issue. Representations fromIt's difficult to argue with the plight of the lower end
many pressure groups such as, FAA, Aerospaceof 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 Airwaysincluding 911 and the vicious airline bankruptcies. Any
Corporation were heard and evaluated by thechange to the age 60 rule would surely delay their
committee members. On the 17th of November thecaptain upgrades by at least 5 years and cost untold
committee ruled and acquiesced to support thethousands in lost career earnings. The alternative side
change to mirror the ICAO regulations. Following theof the argument is that age 60 is discriminatory and
above procedure, the bill was released fromthat pilots may very well be medically capable of
committee and placed upon the Senate Legislativepursuing the left seat until age 65.
Calendar.Irrespective of your viewpoint, it is imperative that
This is the point that many bills perish before evenALPA brings all pilots, regardless of seniority, together
making it to the floor as the responsibility lays withon this issue. As surely a hotbed issue such as this will
the Senate Majority leader to determine which billsonly 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 nevermanagement most definitely does not require
determined a date for the hearing of the bill and thatanother issue to play wedge politics with.
is where the bill remained until perishing with the