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Westmoreland Backs Higher Age Limit for Pilots
12/11/07 (11:24 p.m.) U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland will vote
today in the House to raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial
airline pilots to 65 from 60. As a member of the panel that oversees
aviation, Westmoreland co-sponsored the Fair Treatment for Experienced
Pilots Act, which is expected to easily pass the House tonight.
“The pilot retirement age was set 50 years ago and obviously people are living longer, healthier lives now,” Westmoreland said. “This change protects pilots’ right to work, and it gives airlines and passengers the benefit of service from our most experienced pilots. “On the local level, this legislation aids many of my constituents in Georgia’s 3rd District. Hartsfield-Jackson is a massive economic engine and there are many families in my district that could benefit from this legislation.” Westmoreland represents much of metro Atlanta’s Southside, home to many of the pilots based out of Hartsfield-Jackson. There are more Delta employees in the 3rd District than in any other district in the country. “Other countries have long allowed pilots to work beyond 60 and it’s wrong to punish highly skilled and perfectly healthy American pilots with an arbitrary standard,” Westmoreland said. In November 2006, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted the age 65 retirement standard, and FAA has indicated it plans to promulgate a rule following that precedent. H.R. 4343 will, upon enactment, eliminate the age 60 retirement requirement, uphold stringent medical standards, and ensure that pilots continue to receive sufficient training.
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