mandatory retirement age for pilots
interesting case, this. your thoughts? I'd have personally thought that experience counts for a lot in your game, but do reaction times slow down a lot past 60?
Cheers
Ian Shoesmith
BBC News
[email protected]
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HELICOPTER PILOT, 60, CLAIMS AGE BIAS OVER FLIGHTS BAN
By Alan Jones, PA News Industrial Correspondent
A helicopter pilot who was told he could not fly solo after turning 60 claimed age discrimination today in a test case which could affect hundreds of other pilots.
Ian Evans, from Kedington in Suffolk, argued that the Civil Aviation Authority was in breach of age discrimination laws and said he was perfectly fit and healthy enough to continue with his job.
Under CAA regulations he was told he could not pilot a helicopter by himself if he carried fare-paying passengers following his 60th birthday last April.
The start of his Employment Tribunal hearing in central London was delayed for an hour so that extra tables could be carried into the room to hold more than 100 files connected with the case.
Captain Evans who has flown Tony Blair, David Cameron and Nelson Mandela around the UK, said he wanted to continue working until he was 65 and saw no reason why he should have to retire.
The CAA is contesting the charge of age discrimination and will call a number of expert witnesses over the 10 days set aside for the hearing.
Capt Evans, who flew helicopters in Northern Ireland when he was in the Army, said he was losing work worth up to #20,000 a year because of the age restriction.
He has continued with certain types of work such as flying private helicopter owners and some aerial work.
He told the start of the tribunal that he had successfully taken 40 medical tests over the past 20 years.
It made "no sense" to force helicopter pilots such as him to retire at 60.
Capt Evans said there were no such restrictions in many other countries including the US, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and Switzerland.
He told the tribunal there had been 503 helicopter accidents between 1987 and 2006 but only 21 of these involved pilots over the age of 60.
Pilots of aeroplanes were allowed to continue working until 65, the hearing was told.
Capt Evans, who is seeking damages against the CAA, accused the authority of treating him with "disdain".
The case was adjourned until tomorrow.