Government Law Press Release Thousands of Vietnam-era pilots to lose their jobs because of


by ROBERT FRANKLIN - Date: 2007-03-14 - Word Count: 1201 Share This!

DATE: March 14, 2007

FROM: Robert Franklin Airline instructor pilot Member, APAAD Airline Pilots Against Age Discrimination Phone (206) 250-8501

_____ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ______

Thousands of Vietnam-era pilots to lose their jobs because of controversial FAA age policy

March 14, 2007 ------ While the Federal Aviation Administration begins a slow process to raise the maximum commercial pilot age from 60 to 65, a staggering number of qualified pilots are slipping through the interim cracks - the largest percentage being Vietnam-era pilots nearing or at age 60.

Why? Because even though aviation's international ruling body, ICAO, finalized the new maximum age of 65 last year as most other countries had already enacted, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey has decided not to issue age waivers to allow age-60 pilots to fly during the FAA's lengthy rulemaking process.

This new draconian stance forbidding age waivers amounts to a bureaucratic "catch 22", likely a result of political infighting. Without being granted age waivers, all airline pilots, including the Vietnam-era pilots, will lose their careers at age 60 if the rule is not officially final. That means turning age 60 just one day earlier will bar a pilot from flying again. But pilots who reach age 60 after final ruling may continue their livelihood for five more years. Industry insiders estimate the FAA will take two to three years before finalizing the rule. All pilots affected by this decision will suffer. However it's notable that Vietnam-era pilots comprise the largest group. Veteran pilots who flew in America's longest air war not only stand to lose their jobs - most of these individuals have already lost their pensions from bankrupt airlines.

While pilots' livelihood may be at stake, passenger safety is not. The FAA has never shown or proven any negative causal relationship between older pilots and safety. In fact, pilots under age 30 have an accident rate three times that of older pilots. The EEOC has long ruled that the age 60 policy is illegal and discriminatory - although the FAA had ignored this finding until now.

The waiver refusal is both puzzling and suspect because the FAA has issued similar age waivers before to both American and foreign pilots. Blakey said: "It's not as if we don't have some experience with this, because in fact, we do. Back in 1995, when the agency brought small commuter operators up to the same standards as the majors to form ‘one level of safety,' we allowed about 200 pilots over the age of 60 to continue to fly, grandfathered in for about four years. There were no medical events, no safety events; nothing to show that group couldn't fly above age 60".

At the January rule-making announcement Blakey also went so far as to laud the safety record that experienced, seasoned pilots' bring to aviation, admitting that their time had finally come. However, by refusing to issue waivers, she dashed the Vietnam-era pilots' hopes that they could continue their careers as others were previously allowed to. This refusal, unless changed, ensures they will lose their jobs. Pilot unions, especially the politically powerful ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association), are dominated by pilots under 50 who covet older pilots' seniority and advancement opportunities. Ironically, this attitude most often changes at about age 57 when pilots change their minds - preferring to continue their careers beyond age 60.

The powerful ALPA has lobbied congress and the FAA for years to prevent extending the age limit. Last year FAA Administrator Blakey appointed ALPA President Duane Woerth, a fierce opponent of extending the age, to co-chair the advisory group to studying the issue. As expected, the group could offer no advice.

Blakey said: " . . . a procedural question arises, and I think it's a fair one: Why don't you just put the new retirement age in place today, right now? After all, there are pilots out there every month who turn 60 but want to keep flying. The answer is simple. We can't. And it wouldn't be the right thing to do" Vietnam-era pilots disagreed and are calling foul.

"It's morally and honorably the right thing to do. We flew and fought for our country and what it represents - ideals, justice, equality. When we came home there were no parades or bands playing. Some of us were spit on then - and now again by our own government" - Bob Franklin, age 61, former United States Marine pilot.

"Many of us volunteered to perform our duty in harms way, we devoted ourselves to honorable service, not just fighting for our country, but doing so with moral integrity and total commitment . . .upholding democratic ideals. Perhaps I'm still idealistic in expecting the same treatment for those of us who bravely fought . . . in those steamy jungles . . ." - Phil Lumpkin, age 60, former United States Air Force pilot.

"The FAA refusal to allow those pilots who have already turned age 60 back into the cockpit is unjust. It especially rankles those of us who voluntarily went to Vietnam while others stayed home. This is how our government thanks us." - Kevin McGill, age 60, former United States Navy pilot.

" Like so many others, I participated in Vietnam, Operation Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I am not unique - I'm one of the thousands who volunteered to serve our country in its time of need. My hope is that my country responds in our time of need." - Bud Foglesong, age 59, former United States Air Force pilot.

" . . . many others found ways to avoid military service, I elected to fly for the Navy. I supported my country, and I would do it again - but I never dreamed that I would be the victim of age discrimination. This completely unjustifiable government discrimination needs to end immediately." - Ron Easterling, age 60, former United States Navy Pilot.

"I thank the FAA Administrator. By denying retroactive reinstatement for those who have or will retire during this process she clearly confessed that an arbitrary retirement age is driven strictly by economic motives and not the well-perfumed and specious "concerns" for the physical condition of airmen. Now that she has admitted to it will she be able to bring herself to take the morally correct action?" - Steve Moates, age 60, former United States Navy pilot.

Rich Young, former Navy pilot, age 58, flys for World Airways. He regularly brings combat troops home from Iraq. A regular fuel stop is Bangor, Maine a town that patriotically greets every returning flight: "Our Viet Nam veterans were cheated. Welcome home receptions like the one I witnessed last Friday were unheard of and now years later, those veterans who served their country are being forgotten and cheated once again. It's a particularly stinging coincidence those same men and women who marched off to serve their country back then are being short-changed as we refuse to allow them to continue their professions - stealing livelihoods and forgetting them, just as we did decades ago when they returned from that war. . ."

Ironically, the FAA treats foreign pilots differently. Foreign pilots over 60 have enjoyed the freedom to fly U.S. passengers in and out of American airspace since ICAO officially raised the age limit to 65 last November.

For more information, contact World Airways pilot and Vietnam veteran Robert W. Franklin at (206) 250-8501.


Related Tags: vietnam, veterans, pilots, faa

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