GWB and Congress just did good: Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act.

[DemoTex]

Bush Signs Pilot Retirement Age Act

President Bush signed the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act (H.R.4343) into law on Friday, thus raising the retirement age for commercial pilots from 60 to 65.

The bill passed unanimously through both houses of Congress last week. Introduced last Tuesday by Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), House Transportation and Infrastructure chairman, the law stripped the pilot retirement age provisions out of the FAA reauthorization bill into a stand-alone bill (DAILY, Dec. 12).

"With enactment of this law, we've changed a half-century-old age discrimination rule that has left skilled veteran pilots at a disadvantage to international competitors," said Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), House Transportation Committee ranking member and co-sponsor of the bill.

Mica earlier this month called on Oberstar to pull the pilot retirement age provision out of the FAA reauthorization bill, currently stalled in the Senate, but Oberstar was not in favor of creating a stand-alone bill (DAILY, Dec. 6). H.R. 4343 marks an about-face for the Transportation chairman.

FAA and industry applauded the act. The passage of a stand-alone bill prevents a lengthy rule-making process and allows experienced pilots to continue flying, according to an FAA employee memo.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aviationdaily&id=news/BUSH12177.xml&headline=Bush%20Signs%20Pilot%20Retirement%20Age%20Act

First, HR 4343 passed both houses unanimously last week. Then, Bush signed it immediately. For once I can say, thank you George Bush.

Folks, this is good law for many reasons. The only opponents are very junior airline pilots whose meteoric advancement might have to wait a year or two.

The winners are the flying public, the airlines, and the senior airline pilots (many or most of whom had lost pensions).

A major distraction has been removed from the airline cockpit and airline pilots have been put on parity with the overall retirement system (PBGC, Social Security, etc). Pilots with 17,000+ accident-free flying hours (like DemoTex) can or will continue to fly the public and instruct the new generation of airline pilots.

I am on long-term-disability with some chance, now, of flying again. But my lot is improved either way. It is a great burden off my mind, a great relief of some pending economic stress, and all that helps the blood pressure.

BTW: The normally accurate Av Week erred in the story above. The retirement age was raised for AIRLINE PILOTS, which are but a small sub-set of COMMERCIAL PILOTS.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I think it will be a good thing.

Most of the pilots I know are in favor of it, even the younger ones (though some of the older ones are going to retire at 60 anyhow, since they did keep their pensions). I did notice that the "old" guys will have to have line checks every six months, but it seems to me that if they can hold a first-class medical there's no reason why they shouldn't keep flying for a few more years.

And I hope you get a chance to fly again.

[DemoTex]

2. Here is the text of H.R. 4343 ... not much changed for those over 60.

http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/age_rule/media/HR4343_bill.pdf

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Yep. Looks like the only real difference is the 6-month line check.

[DemoTex]

7. In reality, almost every airline pilot gets 6-12 line checks per year.

It's hard to avoid. Especially if you fly a route into a training base. Hate to say it, but I've seen training department pilots pull a "line check" to guarantee that jump seat to get to work. The FAA does the same damn thing. Lots of FAA line checks between NYC and Myrtle Beach, SC, when the golf weather gets good.

"Line Checks" reminds me of a song by the Everly Brothers: Oh, The Stories He Could Tell!

[eagler]

4. Age nor any other form of discrimination should be allowed -

ABILITY should be the only consideration

[TomInTib]

5. Great.

A friend of mine just got screwed about 6 months ago.

An accident-free career down the tubes with no pension.

[DemoTex]

9. If you turned 60 last Thursday (12/13), with a pension problem, you are screwed.

No back-look. No grand-father. No more airline career.

I'm lucky. I need the law. I turn 60 .. well let's say, very soon. This protects my income (theoretically), and gives me another shot at flying the line if my B/P ever improves (the company is required to assume that it will .. that's why they require me to go to Dallas once a year to see my B/P specialist). It also resolves some PBGC inequities.

I am sorry that there is no look back at the airline retirement inequities. I say that with our dear DUer TROF in mind. TROF was screwed by TWA and Carl Icahn.

[catnhatnh]

6. Good for you Tex....

though of course when I see phrases like "the FAA and industry applauded the act" I generally tend to cringe, figuring another set of workers is getting bent over.......

[DemoTex]

10. Me too ....

I'm cringing too!

[Ilsa]

8. Finally, something decent happens with Bush's signing a bill. nt