Age-60 rule gets a lift?

Remember our post on pilots aging out of service? The age-60 rule, a requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), forces commercial pilots into retirement at 60 years of age. As John Gomperts detailed, in some cases this is a pilot's prime.

The U.S. Senate set about changing the mandatory retirement age to 65 this month by wrapping this new requirement into the transporation appropriations bill approved by the Senate. If passed, this new law will immediately take effect. If this bill fails in the House or is vetoed, pilots have an alternate course in the future FAA reauthorization bill.

Our original post:
A few months ago, John Gomperts, CEO of Experience Corps, wrote a touching article about a recent airline flight during which the retiring Captain spent a good deal of time with the passengers.

"Captain Engelhart emerged from the cockpit and began working his way through
the cabin, shaking hands and talking. He met each passenger with enthusiasm,
helped people get backpacks out of overhead compartments, chatted about books,
gave vacation and restaurant recommendations, and even worked with the flight
attendants to distribute drinks and snacks."

This was Captain Engelhart's last flight. He was approaching 60, the age of mandatory retirement for airline pilots. Mr. Gomperts noted that he had witnessed a pilot "at the top of his game" and wondered if societal norms about aging workers would adjust in time to save Captain Engelhart's job. Well, airline pilots have decided not to wait for the employment norms to meet up with the interests and experience of aging pilots. 125 working and retired pilots filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration in San Francisco courts on Thursday. They asked for a change in the age-60 rule and compensation for lost income for those interested in working past 60. According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the FAA was already considering the removal of the age-60 rule, but no action is expected for at least 1-1/2 years.
Click here to read more of John Gomperts' reflection on Captain Engelhart.
Click here to read the San Francisco Chronicle's account of the recent filing.