Organization of Black Airline Pilots
Apr 21, 2003
Author: Clovis Jones, Jr

Captain Paul Emens
Government Affair Committee
Southwest Pilots' Association
6363 Forest Park Road, Suite 800
Dallas, TX 75235

Dear Captain Emens;

The Organization of Black Airline Pilots, Inc. opposes §121.383 (c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), commonly referred to as the Age 60 Rule. We fear that if a federal agency is able to establish and continue a rule or practice that discriminates in contradiction of federal non-discrimination laws respecting age, similar unfair and unlawful practices may arise or expand to discrimination on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity or national origin.

We believe the Rule was instituted, and is maintained, for political rather than safety reasons, That position is supported by;

· The fact that other countries have abandoned mandatory retirement at age 60.

· The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) allows pilots to fly past age 60.

· These pilots are allowed to fly Into U.S. airspace and airports,

· The Directors of the National Institute on Aging of the National Institute of Health testified that medical science can adequately protect public safety.

· The Hilton Study (commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)) recommended increasing the retirement age.

· The FAA grants waivers to airmen younger than 60 who have the same and other maladies from which the flying public is suppose to be being protected by the Age 60 Rule.

· The FAA refuses to grant the waivers necessary to conduct studies of the capabilities of pilots age 60 and older.

· The FAA allows its own pilots to fly past age 60.

We support your, and any other efforts, to rescind this arbitrary and egregious rule which owes its longevity, in a large part, to political action contributions from an organization which does not mention "safety" in its Policy Resolution opposing any change.



Very truly yours,

Clovis Jones, Jr
President, OBAP

National Office/ 2740 Greenbriar Parkway, Suite A-3128, Atlanta, GA 30331/ Ph (800) JET-OBAP www.obap.org

The original of the signed document on file with PAAD.

for issuing medical certificates to people of all age, including those age 60 and above, who now serve as pilots in non-port 121 flight operations. Additionally…many experts have testified that Class I medical testing is fully sufficient to identify health or performance problems for pilots regardless of age. These experts also have stated that, to the extent further testing may be desirable, cardiac stress tests, enhanced blood work-ups, and neuropsychological screening could be added to the standard battery of Class I tests for all pilots.