Jim Gibbons Press Release
Jun 27, 2003
Author:

P R E S S R E L E A S E



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Amy Spanbauer

June 27, 2003 202-225-6155



Gibbons Requests Hearings to Amend the FAA Age 60 Rule

A Former Airline Pilot, Nevada Lawmaker Says Rule is Outdated and Blatant Age Discrimination



Washington, DC - A former airline pilot for almost 20 years, Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) today requested that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hold a hearing on his legislation that would to raise the arbitrary, yet mandatory, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) retirement age of commercial airline pilots from 60 to 65 years of age.



"There is absolutely no evidence to say that pilots are any less capable of flying a plane at age 60 than they were at the age of 59 and 364 days," stated Gibbons. "The FAA rule mandating retirement at age 60 is an outdated and arbitrary rule that discriminates against a specific group of pilots and in no way benefits the flying public who deserve the safety of flying with our nation's most experienced pilots."



Under the current FAA regulations, promulgated in 1959 without any medical justification, all commercial airline pilots are forced to retire at the age of 60. Since all commercial airline pilots are required to pass rigorous, twice- yearly flight physical examinations to ensure that their reflexes, health and mental capacity remain at the highest levels possible, mandatory retirement based on age is unnecessary.



Noting that the Age 60 Rule has had brief attention in a previous Transportation Committee hearing, Gibbons requested that Chairman Young hold a congressional hearing specific to the issue and his legislation that directs the FAA to incrementally raise the mandatory retirement age of commercial airline pilots from 60 to 65. The retirement age would increase one year, every year, for 5 years after the Gibbons' bill becomes law.



Adding that 44 countries, including Germany, Japan, and Great Britain, currently allow their pilots to fly past the age of 60, Gibbons said, "it is time for FAA regulations to meet the 21st century."



The complete text of Gibbons' letter to Chairman Young is below.



June 27, 2003



Chairman Don Young

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

2165 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515



Dear Chairman Young:



One of my top priorities during the 108th Congress is to see the Federal Aviation Administration's outdated, unnecessary, and discriminatory "Age 60" rule amended, and the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots increased from 60 to 65. To meet this goal, I have introduced H.R. 1063. This legislation addresses an issue of great importance to thousands of airline pilots nationwide and, as a 16-year veteran commercial airline pilot, it is an issue of great importance to me personally.



On June 10, I sponsored an amendment to the Federal Aviation Reauthorization bill that contained the language of H.R.1063. Despite testimony from Representatives Cunningham, Jackson-Lee, and me, the Rules Committee voted down the amendment. Enclosed, and for your reference, please find the text of my testimony before the House Rules Committee.



H.R. 1063 is currently pending consideration before your Committee. To date, there are 23 bipartisan co-sponsors of this legislation, all of whom have expressed a keen interest in taking all possible measures to stimulate movement on this bill. In an effort to promote this important issue and support the will of our colleagues who have co-sponsored this legislation, I respectfully request that your Committee hold a hearing on H.R. 1063.



The "Age 60 Rule" has received brief attention in past Transportation Committee hearings. However, the time has come for Congress to provide a proper forum to explore, debate, and discuss the issue of age discrimination in the aviation industry.



Please feel free to contact me, or Margaret McElroy of my staff, at 5-6155 to discuss this matter further. I appreciate your consideration of this request, and I look forward too working together on this important issue in the future.



Sincerely,

/s/

Jim Gibbons

Member of Congress

-NE)