Originally Posted by
Moose
Of course ALPA rammed this through. Do you really think a congressman would vote for an age extension bill if ALPA was screaming that it was not safe for the majority to fly past 60? If ALPA was complaining that there were no studies done to see if it was safe would this of happened? If it was so safe, why can't two +60ers fly together on international routes? It was just rammed through due to APAAD/ ALPA without any thought whatsoever. And if you want to complain about age discrimination why didn't the Air Traffic Controllers get their "age discrimination" rule lifted?
ALPA did not spend one dime of money pushing the age 65 bill. In matters they have supported they spend large amounts of money. You only get support in congress when you buy it. They also only chnaged their stance when 65 became the ICAO rule and it was obvious to anyone with a brain that the next court challange would be lost. By getting onboard they were able to help craft and shape the way the rule went into effect. They could have held their breath and stamped their feet and cried "No 65". Had they done that 65 would still be the rule today except you would have thousands of pilots who were over 65 returning back to work and a much more intensive physical process for all pilots regardless of age.