Victor S.B. Jorden's letter to Senator Frank Murkowski
Apr 21, 2003
Author: Victor S.B. Jorden

Victor S.B. Jorden's letter to Senator Frank Murkowski
Victor S.B. Jorden, M.D., M.P.H.
308 Mt. Alverno Road
Media, PA 19063

Tel 610.565.1618
Fax 610.565.8837
E-mail razorsedge2@prodigy.net

March 17, 2000

Senator Frank Murkowski
(Attention: Donna Murray)
322 Hart Building
Washington D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Murkowski:

I am writing to you to indicate my strong support of SB 1855, the bill eradicating the "Age 60 Rule" and striking down forced retirement of commercial airliner pilots at age 60. I support this bill not only as an independent occupational injury researcher, but also as a frequent traveler and air travel consumer.

There is no scientific evidence indicating that the Age 60 Rule adequately protects the flying public against in-flight pilot medical disasters, such as heart attack or stroke. Consider the following facts:

The Age 60 Rule selects a completely arbitrary age, and is based on 1950’s medical technology and standards of practice (the rule was written in 1958);
Commercial airline pilots at any age undergo practically no cardiac testing at all from the antiquated FAA medical examination system (the FAA exam mandates only an electrocardiogram, and not even a cholesterol level);
In-flight heart attacks have been documented to occur in pilots younger than 60, and the Age 60 Rule provides no screen against these disasters (in some studies, the average age for in-flight heart attacks was approximately 50 years!!).
There is little, if any evidence to indicate that pilots over the age of 60 are at a substantially higher risk of in-flight medical disasters than younger pilots.
The Age 60 Rule dismisses the last 30 years of medical technology in pilot screening and cardiac risk assessment. Furthermore, the regulation provides passengers with no protection whatsoever against younger pilots that may suffer in-flight catastrophes. The only logical solution to enhance flying safety is to abolish the Age 60 rule, with substitution of non-invasive cardiac evaluation, for younger pilots as well as older pilots.

The Age 60 Rule, which denies the flying public the abilities and maturity of some of our most capable aviators, is clearly an anachronism in modern occupational health. If a neurosurgeon over 60 may operate on a human brain, and a legislator over 60 may make critical decisions affecting our country and the world, pilots over 60 should be able permitted to fly and contribute to the safety of travelers such as you and me!

I wish you the greatest success in abolishing the Age 60 Rule.

Very truly yours,

Victor S.B. Jorden, M.D., M.P.H.