It's an interesting point regarding only having English as the language, but again you could apply this to Lufthansa or Iberia or any other European country, all of whom have different variations of their national language.

I am not in favour of discrimination, but I support the right of Swiss to choose the required language given the amount of time you will spend in Zurich around German-speaking people, and as flight crew you need to influence the dispatchers and ground handling agents, the truth is that you can function more effectively in German if you are based in Zurich.

It just seems that your definition of "discrimination" is a bit overdeveloped. Speaking as an Englishman, that's really saying something! :}

No hard feelings.

Speaking a certain language is a skill.
An employer is perfectly within his rights to demand certain skills from his prospective employees. No discrimination here.
Would Swissair be discriminating by demanding its pilots have the skill to fly an airplane?

Everyone can learn how to speak a second or third language. If you don`t want to acquire this skill, that`s your perogative. You make your choices, you take the consequences.

What 's the use to learn German when over 37?

The problem remains the same
 

IMHO the language or the race isn't relevant. What matters is the age discrimination which is still in force. I'm asking the swiss fellow ppruners: in how many civilized countries, let alone in the EU, do you have an age limit for pilot applicants? Wouldn't it be time to quit this very unfair practice? Even in Germany Lufthansa did the same until the first lawsuits came in because the VC and the management were completely unified in this respect.

I fell victim of this practice more than once.

When I first called them in the mid 90s they said: you must be a Swiss citizen to apply!

When I called them to apply for a DEC position with Swiss Private Aviation they said: our age limit is 50 years, you are too young!

What a load of BS! As usual, the people who postulate strict requirements are unable to fulfil them themselves!

if you have been discriminated By Swiss based on your age, please file a complaint at:





Human Rights Council and Treaties Division
Complaint Procedure
OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: (41 22) 917 90 11
E-mail: [email protected]

Cybil, Cybil! Dont mention the War:
 

I did once, but I think I got away with it!:D

The Swiss stole all the gold, and the money, maybe the Germans will get it right third time around!:E

Chr's H/Snort