FAA could force thousands to retire early
New Braunfels, Texas -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration may force up to 4,000 pilots into early retirement in what some are calling age discrimination.
The San Antonio Express-News talked to Ron Richtsmeier of New Braunfels, Texas, who was fired from his job as a pilot for Southwest Airlines after he turned 60.
"I was fired by the FAA when I had a birthday," he said. "On April 21 of 2001, I flew a Boeing 737 full of passengers. The next day, because I had a birthday, I was no longer safe to do that in the eyes of the FAA."
FAA spokespeople have, since 1959, cited safety as a means for early retirement. The FAA is considering raising the retirement age to 65, but it may take up to two years to enact and those affected in the interim period will not be protected, the Express-News reported.
"We're going to lose 4,000 pilots while the FAA fiddles with this rule," Paul Emens, chairman of Airline Pilots Against Age Discrimination, told the News-Express.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International.
