So I get stuck reading USA Today because that’s the paper my hotel decides to slip under our doors here in the nation’s capital. And while flipping through the pages, I come across a big ad from the Allied Pilots Association, the union which represents the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines. The ad, which understandably caught my attention, reads: “An Open Letter to Airline Passengers: Your Safety is at Risk.”
Why? How? Have the terrorists found a new way to bring down a jumbo jet with a tube of toothpaste?
Nah, nothing like that. Turns out Congress passed a transportation bill which allows pilots to fly until they’re 65. At present time, they’re forced to retire at age 60. And “an overwhelming majority” of American Airlines pilots don’t want to risk the possibility that they might end up working those additional five years. Which is fine. Let ‘em work that out with AA’s management. I mean, isn’t that what a union is *supposed* to do?
But no, the union wants the government to prohibit the airlines from raising the retirement age for them. Which is bad enough. But they also run today’s ad trying to scare the bejeepers out of the flying public - as if terrorists and TSA agents aren’t frightening enough - with this headline: “Report: Pilots Slept on Overnight Flight.”
The open letter then goes on to note that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) “has linked pilot fatigue to 10 commercial aviation accidents since 1993, accidents that killed 260 people.” They also cite a newspaper story which claims “six cases where pilots fell asleep in mid-flight.”
This kind of over-hyped hysteria is so typical of labor unions who will do anything and say anything to get their way. Unfortunately, a gullible public probably believes that unless Congress continues to mandate that all pilots retire at age 60, airplanes are going to begin falling out of the sky from coast to coast.
Can’t wait to board my plane in about 15 minutes and show my Southwest Airlines pilot what the American Airlines pilots are doing and ask if Southwest pilots take mid-flight naps the way the American pilots apparently do.
And yes, “Paul” (a friend and AA pilot), I’ll be sitting right here at my laptop waiting to hear your side of this story. 
Posted on November 15th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National
You need to suggest the steward offer a nice cup of coffee to the pilots on a REGULAR basis during your flight. heh
“This kind of over-hyped hysteria is so typical of labor unions who will do anything and say anything to get their way.”
Are you claiming that the Allied Pilots Association letter isn’t factual? If so, which statements in the letter are false?
[…] As noted in my previous column on this subject, I have a friend named “Paul” (not his real name) who is an American Airlines pilot. Below is a response from him on the issue of raising the retirement age for pilots from 60 to 65. But before we get to that, let me make my position clear on this matter, as some readers missed the point. […]
sorry to disappoint the blogger on his assertions that this is just union hype to get what they want. There is a NASA study he should probably refer to that has no bias towards airline pilots and is based on sleep study tests conducted over the last several decades. This same study is not being released to the general public for fear the information could lead to better safety standards. Included is something of interest noting that being older with our increased work schedules will lead to more safety related incidents. Our points are valid and not over hyoed. they can be backed up with facts. I have noticed a general trend towards airline pilot bashing and overall diminshing of the importance of the career. All i can say is it was airliners piloted by madman that brought the country to its knees. Maybe what pilots do then is important work. Just a thought. Not too many terrorist attacks in an office building are going to cripple the us economy and kill thousands. Take Oklahoma City as an example..All the naysayers and negative pundits either wanted to be pilots at some point or just have a bad attitude towards people who grew up to do what they love. They are free to join the military and or spend thousands working towards the career if they so choose. until then you can sit back and enjoy the ride …
I’ve been flying at American Airlines for nearly 21 years and most of that is on International flights. I’ve always heard that it is a young man’s job and can say it gets harder everyear. If you think it is so easy, try mutiple time zone changes each week, flying on the backside of your body clock, have all the pressures of making sure you, your crew, your passengers and the aircraft arrive safely every time regardless of the weather and emergencies and then reflect on how easy it is. That doesn’t include the fact that we don’t go home and rest up for the next flight. Many have military duty on the days off and everyone has a life outside of the airlines. I couldn’t imagine trying to do this at 64 1/2 years of age. It is nothing like working in an office or even being a road warrior traveling all of the time. Those people don’t have the pressure on them and yes they can catch up on their rest on a flight. Look at the NASA report for further info. Don’t just bash the Union. The majority of the pilots on the property don’t want to fly past that age for reasons other than safety. Things like radiation exposure is a concern. One last thought, I have flown with many near 60 Captains. Some should have retired long before 60 and some could stay well past. I would say 60 is a pretty good time to leave from my observations in the cockpit. It works well the way it is now.