(Reuters) – Bo Ellis has been an active member of the Air Pilots Association (ALPA) for nearly 40 years, but the 64-year-old joined the union to advance his aviation career. campaigning against it.
ALPA and other pilots’ unions oppose a U.S. Congressional bill that would increase the retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67, and the bill’s impact has not been studied by safety agencies. It claims it poses “new risks” to the aviation system.
But the move is estimated to give 5,000 pilots like Ellis the option to continue working for the next two years, according to the Regional Aviation Association (RAA).
Raising the age limit by two years would also bring pilots’ retirement age in line with the federal minimum retirement age, allowing pilots to receive full Social Security benefits.
Ellis, the chief pilot of a U.S. carrier, said senior pilots were “much safer” from experience and accused ALPA of “politicizing” safety.
“My own union is discriminating against me,” he said.
Congressman Pilot Lobby
Ellis said he wanted a coalition of thousands of pilots from airlines including Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), United Airlines (UAL.O), American Airlines (AAL.O) and Southwest Airlines (LUV.N). Co-founded and lobbied for legislation, with more than 200 lawmakers.
In a statement, the ALPA said it had “carefully” considered and elected representatives voted “unanimously” last October to reiterate its opposition to “arbitrary changes” to retirement ages. Ta.
“The United States has not cut corners and established a gold standard of aviation safety in making major changes to the complex global aviation system,” ALPA said.
Mesa Airlines (MESA.O) pilot Rick Redfern, who attended the ALPA meeting in October, said the union board had only approved a strategic plan that included a position on age. But the specific issue of raising the retirement age to 67 never made it to the floor for a vote. Two other pilots present at the meeting also confirmed Redfern’s account.
Internal emails and interviews with more than a dozen pilots reviewed by Reuters revealed members were divided over the issue of age. Some pilots asked not to reveal their employers, citing the risk of losing their jobs.
In a previously unreported development, a proposal by Mesa pilots for a vote on the age limit will be discussed at the ALPA’s national executive committee meeting in September, Redfern said.
ALPA needs to “know what’s going on in the community,” said Redfern, ALPA’s representative for the MESA pilot.
Similarly, United Airlines’ ALPA division is surveying pilots on the issue for the first time in 16 years.
“We are fully aware of the enthusiasm that has been raised on this issue,” ALPA said in an August 3 memo to United Airlines pilots seen by Reuters.
The measure, which was passed by the House of Representatives last month and is expected to be adopted by the U.S. Senate in September, will help alleviate airline staffing shortages that have cut air service to more than 300 U.S. airports. can.
“It will be a much-needed relief,” said Savanti Sith, an airline stocks analyst at Raymond James.
Junior VS Senior Pilot
All airline pilots are required to pass a medical examination every six months, and pilots over the age of 40 must undergo a heart test with an electrocardiogram every year. In addition, all pilots are regularly evaluated in their flight simulators to ensure proficiency.
Proponents of the measure said advances in medicine have improved our understanding of pilot incapacitation. They point to Canada, Japan and Australia, which have high or no age limits for pilots.
In addition, pilots over the age of 65 are allowed to operate corporate jets and charter jets.
Take Dan Carr, a former Mesa captain who turns 66 this month and is a business jet pilot. If he had been allowed to retire at 67, Mr. Kerr would never have left Mesa, he said.
“I feel at the peak of my ability,” he said.
Some older pilots want to work longer to benefit from higher salaries after enduring the economic losses from the 2020-2021 coronavirus pandemic and various airline bankruptcies. Some people
They accused union leaders of pandering to younger pilots, who outnumber senior aviators and fear that raising the retirement age will hurt their careers.
“This is a young pilot coup against senior pilots,” said Allen Baker, who retired as a United Airlines pilot in June.
ALPA said its position on age was the result of a “democratic process” and reflected the “will” of its members.
The 65-year-old Baker shared with Reuters an email he wrote to United Airlines’ ALPA leadership just weeks before he left, complaining about a “disparaging campaign” by junior pilots against senior personnel like him. Ta.
American Airlines Pilots’ Union spokesman Dennis Tager said pilots who want a higher retirement age want to keep earning longer.
split airline
The ALPA said changes to aviation policy should not be made “by order of the backroom of Congress or by a special interest group driven by money.” As current international regulations still ban pilots over the age of 65 from flying internationally, the move could create problems for airline schedules and pilot training, and may require the reinstatement of pilot contracts. warns that there is
ALPA director Jason Ambrosi said in an interview that the move would increase costs for airlines and ticket prices for customers. However, he did not provide concrete data to support his claims.
Like pilots, airlines are divided. Frontier Airlines (ULCC.O) Chief Executive Barry Biffle said global aviation industry groups, the International Air Transport Association and the RAA also joined in supporting the bill, allowing pilots to fly as long as they pass medical examinations. said it should be.
But United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said raising the retirement age would not solve the pilot shortage. Last year, he said 36% of the company’s 64-year-old pilots were on sick, long or short medical leave.
Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein said he wants pilots like Mr. Carr, a former Mesa employee, to fly longer. Since the beginning of 2022, the company has lost 37% of its captains due to retirements and staff reductions, and its business is deteriorating.
“If regulations allow, I would withdraw them all,” he said.
Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh of Chicago and Alison Lampert of Montreal.Editing: Ben Kleiman and Grant McCool
Our criteria: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.