MUTH’S TRUTHS

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.

My biggest bone of contention was the over-heated rhetoric in the ad the American Airlines pilots union ran yesterday in USA Today which tried to make the flying public think that pilots sleeping on the job in the cockpit was a national crisis which would only be made worse by raising the retirement age. That’s completely misleading and disingenuous…which is par for the course for most unions.

As a number of pilots have pointed out in emails to me since yesterday, they’re not the only ones in the cockpit. On long flights, it’s not only a fact that cockpit crew rest with an occasional nap, it’s highly desirable. The pilot rests while the co-pilot keeps an eye on things, then vice-versa. What’s so dangerous about this?

And a number of readers also pointed out that today’s airliners, once up on the air, pretty much fly themselves. I think they call it “auto-pilot” or something. In any event, the union’s Chicken Little hysteria in their newspaper advertisement about sleeping pilots needlessly frightened the flying public while making all pilots, not just the American pilots, look bad. That’s what ticked me off most. And if “pilot fatigue” has been a contributing factor in air accidents in the past, the problem has more to do with working conditions, not age. As one reader put it, “I’d rather be flying with a sober 64-year-old than a drunk 52-year-old.” Point taken.

Finally, it should be noted that there are different pilot unions representing different pilots for different airlines, and they all don’t agree on this issue.

“FYI, the APA (American Pilots Association) is the only major pilot union opposed to the rule change on age,” writes “Bob,” another pilot from another union at another airline. “My union, the IPA (Independent Pilot’s Association), has taken a neutral stance, as have most other pilot unions. If it were put to a vote here the rule change would have overwhelming support.”

Anyway, without further ado, here’s more information on this issue from my American Airlines pilot-friend “Paul”…

Believe it or not, AA (American Airlines) doesn’t want the age “65″ rule any more than APA (pilot’s union). I wish it was as simple as you made it sound. The rule has a huge ripple effect that further complicates already complicated issues.

The pilots at United and USairways are “for” the change, because they have had their retirement taken away from them, and now they have to save like crazy to try to make up some of the difference between the annual $28,500 they will get from the PGBC and what they were planning on; some would have retired with a couple million dollars if they took it in a lump sum payment. Quite a difference, wouldn’t you say? So, of course they want the retirement age made later so they can get a chance to make up some portion of what they lost. I don’t blame them. I could end up in the same boat and am planning accordingly.

Consider this small fact about your age 65 ruling: “Only one pilot over the age of 60 will be allowed to be scheduled to fly the same flight.” First question that comes to my mind is: “If a pilot is healthy enough to pass the physical to fly an airplane over the age of 60, why are they, the FAA, allowing only ONE of them in the cockpit at a time? What exactly are they saying about these pilots over 60?”. I’m not making this up, Chuck.

As far as the fatigue issue goes, I’m pretty tired after I fly any set of 4 “legs,” and I’m pretty beat when I’m finished. If I’m still doing this 10 years from now I can’t imagine how tired I’ll be at the end of the day.

When you make a big mistake in your business, (not that you ever do!), you have some apologies to make or maybe a fine to pay. In my business if I make the worst mistake 145 people die. Do you want your wife and kids in the hands of a 64 year old pilot on his/her 4th leg of the day after dealing with bad weather all day during the previous 3 legs. Let’s hope he at least started off the day after a good night’s sleep. Ha! Right!

Now let’s talk about scheduling. Please see the above where the FAA will not allow 2 pilots over the age of 60 to be paired together for a flight. Gee, if I’m AA, I only have 12,000 pilots to put schedules together for. Worse yet, those pilots actually have LIVES outside of flying! They have families and friends they would like to spend time with! As it is now they have no idea what days they have off the following month until the 17th of the month prior. How many more days will it take to reshuffle schedules to ensure that no two 60+ pilots are paired up?

Don’t forget that “seniority”, (date of hire), is in play here. The reshuffle will be extremely complicated. So now instead of the 17th, it’s the 19th or 20th. “Honey, I’m sorry we can’t get tickets for that show you want to see, it was sold out by the time I found out what my schedule was.” It is bad enough that way now. I just can’t wait for it to get worse!

That all said, let me add: I had nothing to do with that ad you saw, nor do I agree with the expenditure. We have elected our own “Jimmy Hoffa” to the position of APA president. From what little I know of him, he is everything you despise about union people. Management brought this on themselves by giving themselves big bonuses, not based on their performance, while the rest of the employees, union and non-union, made sacrifices. All of us are disappointed and angry.

If you need clarification on any of this feel free to call me.

Posted on November 16th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National