Mandatory retirement: 'Sixty is just a number'

Earlier this month, we learned that the panel convened by the FAA to discuss whether to change the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots in the United States to 65 were unable to reach a consensus on the matter.

The FAA has yet to announce its decision on this issue, however the debate continues in the press.

An article published in the business section of the Denver Post quotes several pilots' opinions on the 'Age 60' debate. Some excerpts:

At 59, Mark Zenner would like to keep working for a few more years. But because he's a pilot with a major U.S. airline, the Denver resident will be forced to retire when he turns 60 in May.

...

Zenner and other pilots want to change the Age 60 rule, which the Air Line Pilots Association describes as "one of the most historically contentious issues among the pilot community."

The rule "is antiquated, ossified and was never based on medical science," said Zenner. "For me personally, there's a huge economic motivation behind this."

His pension benefits were reduced 75 to 80 percent after his airline terminated its pension plan.

Many younger pilots also cite economic reasons for opposing a change in the 'Age 60 Rule,' but from a different perspective:

If fewer pilots retire, gaining seniority and moving up the ranks will take longer. And that "translates to earnings, quality of life and schedule," said Greg Mateyko.

He has been flying for a major national airline for about 10 years and would like more opportunity to fly the best routes with the most appealing schedules.

The article notes that few airlines have taken an official position in this debate. One exception is Southwest Airlines. A spokeswoman for that airline is quoted as saying, "We just feel that forcing our most experienced pilots to retire because of a rule that as far as we know is not based on any data or medical history is just unfair."

Southwest Airline Pilots Association president Joseph "Ike" Eichelkraut remarked, "This particular rule is arbitrary, discriminatory, and it needlessly throws out experienced pilots."

Many older pilots feel insulted to be told that it's fine for them to fly an airliner on the day before their sixtieth birthday, while the day afterward they are automatically too old.

"Sixty is just a number that's really picked out of the air," said Frank McCurdy, a 65-year-old retired United Airlines pilot. "It's basically not fair."

Read the whole article here: Some pilots make forced landings - Denver Post

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