How do you guys feel about the new retirement age going up to 65?  I don’t know why everyone is making such a big deal about it?  People nowadays live much longer.  I know a lot of pilots that are 60 and are in perfect health.


Fort Worth, Texas (December 12, 2007)—The Allied Pilots Association,
collective bargaining agent for the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines, issued the
following prepared statement today:
“This week the U.S. House of Representatives voted to increase airline pilot
retirement age from 60 to 65. Companion legislation is now pending in the Senate.
“The Allied Pilots Association—which represents the 12,000 pilots of American
Airlines, the nation’s largest passenger carrier—has commissioned an outside polling
firm to survey U.S. adults on pilot retirement age. Results so far indicate that an
overwhelming majority of Americans have serious safety concerns about any increase in
the retirement age and favor further study.
“Similarly, our pilots support age 60 retirement by a seven-to-one margin for
safety reasons. We should heed their professional judgment. After all, pilots are in the
best position to ascertain the effects of aging on their own stamina and skills and on those
of their fellow pilots.
“In response to the public’s concerns and our pilots’ own views, we urge
lawmakers to refrain from passing into law any increase in pilot retirement age. Instead,
the Federal Aviation Administration should be permitted to proceed with a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking for a full vetting of this issue.
“The United States has long set the worldwide standard for aviation safety and
should preserve its leadership role. The reality is no one knows what would happen with
large numbers of 65-year-old pilots in the cockpits of modern commercial airliners
operating in today’s demanding environment. The data doesn’t exist because it would be
unprecedented. Prudence therefore dictates that we proceed with caution.
“For safety’s sake, it’s the right thing to do.”


Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot
union in the U.S.—is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 12,000
pilots of American Airlines, including 2,570 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began
shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines
pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s
Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org.
American Airlines is the nation’s largest passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo
carrier.

http://www.alliedpilots.org/