Pilots Age 60 (discount flights) Where Is It Now
No commentsBy Steven Rowland
Probably one of the most contentious issues of recent times in the aviation community is the proposed changes to the age 60 rule. As most of the readers will be aware, age 60 is a mandatory retirement age for pilots involved in the part 121 airline environment. Representations and pressure groups from both ends of the age spectrum have recently been engaged in open warfare to influence the change in legislation to their specific sides benefit.
In early 2005, the republican senator for Nevada introduced a bill, HR 65, which dealt with altering the retirement age for airline pilots from 60 to 65, so as to be inline with ICAO rules. The resolution was then referred to the House Committee on Transportation and infrastructure which was chaired by Rep. Don Young. Subsequently HR 65 was then referred to the Sub Committee on Aviation which falls under the jurisdiction of the Transportation committee. There was indeed no hearings ever conducted on HR 65 nor were any recommendations tendered to the House Committee on Transportation. Thats basically where the resolution remained all through 2006 until the 109th Congress adjourned in December.
Further to the above, a bill entitled S 65 was sponsored in the Senate which was then referred to the relevant committee for consideration. On the 19th July 2005, the committee met and convened a hearing to consider the issue. Representations from many pressure groups such as, FAA, Aerospace Medical Association, Airline Pilots Association, SWAPA, Allied Pilots Association, and Jetblue Airways Corporation were heard and evaluated by the committee members. On the 17th of November the committee ruled and acquiesced to support the change to mirror the ICAO regulations. Following the above procedure, the bill was released from committee and placed upon the Senate Legislative Calendar.
This is the point that many bills perish before even making it to the floor as the responsibility lays with the Senate Majority leader to determine which bills are addressed by the that session of the Senate. The Senate Majority Leader, Senator Frist never determined a date for the hearing of the bill and that is where the bill remained until perishing with the adjournment of the 109th Congress.
Whilst, both bills died a standalone death, they received a much needed boost by their incorporation as amendments into the Transportations Appropriations Bill, HR 5576. Generally, these money bills are voted and passed in the house before moving into the second phase of review in the Senate. While in review in Senate Sub Committee the S 65 changes where added to the appropriations bill.
However, due to the election the money bill was never voted upon and therefore ceased when the 109th congress adjourned in December 2006. Rather than pass these appropriations bills congress choose to pass a continuing resolution which allowed the federal government to fund their agencies until Feb 15th, 2007.
So as it stands, the amendments remain within the appropriations bill and must be addressed by the 110th Congress whether individually or rolled up into a single bill called an omnibus bill. As the balance of power in Congress has changed its unlikely that the Democrat led Senate would choose to keep any controversial amendments in the appropriations bill lest it cause the delay of federal funding for their agencies. Having said that, there is tremendous pressure from both sides of the age divide to influence the proceedings.
It’s difficult to argue with the plight of the lower end of the seniority list, having been restricted from the usual career progression by a number of factors including 911 and the vicious airline bankruptcies. Any change to the age 60 rule would surely delay their captain upgrades by at least 5 years and cost untold thousands in lost career earnings. The alternative side of the argument is that age 60 is discriminatory and that pilots may very well be medically capable of pursuing the left seat until age 65.
Irrespective of your viewpoint, it is imperative that ALPA brings all pilots, regardless of seniority, together on this issue. As surely a hotbed issue such as this will only be detrimental to any alliance that currently exists between the different pilot groups and airline management most definitely does not require another issue to play wedge politics with.
Steve Rowland is the administrator and web master of Student Loan Consolidation Center and aims to make it significantly easier for intending students to access higher education.
Steven is also the editor and webmaster of Free Articles a site specialising in providing guides and free articles.
Life of the affluent people
By REGINALD80 JOURDAN80
Life of the affluent people
Wealthy people with tons of asset to their name do not always realize the beauty of life. Some of them try to realize it while others remain busy in earning more money, more wealth and more assets. Question is, why one earns wealth if she / he can not make proper use of it?
Men should have a vision in life. This vision can portrait the attitude of earning wealth and lead life in luxury, but it should not be the sole attitude. One has to enjoy life; she / he has to lead a lifestyle where there is a room for relaxation.
Affluent people can enjoy and relax in various ways. There are actually unlimited amount of enjoyment variables available. One just need to pick the one she / he likes and then go ahead in doing it.
Rich and ultra wealthy people need to realize that spending is the by-product of earning. One has to spend a lot if she / he is earning a lot. There is no fun in having a healthy bank balance but no luxury in the lifestyle. More one spends, more she/ he realizes the beauty of life!
People who are wealthy and rich usually spend their money on automotives, aviation, boating and on yachts. Apart than these, they spend on magazine, art, auction and collectables.
Buying a private plane and flying to any beautiful island can be a good way for the wealthy people to have a good time with the family members. However, they need to ensure that the island has an airport and five star hotels. There is no point in landing at an island, where there are no luxurious hotels.
Spending time in the private yacht is also a good way to relax a bit. A time by the sea is always refreshing and delightful. Watching the sun go down and rise are best ways to understand the earths nature.
Participating in big auctions is a fun way of spend money. Auctions can be very interesting and challenging if two or more people start bidding for a single product.
Spending time in the casinos is also a fascinating way of having fun. Five star casinos are the best place for rich people to understand, how good it is to loss money in a quick time. Without a flash, millions of dollars will vanish but wealthy customers will spend more.
Purchasing collectables is another way of having fun. Rich people often go for this option to impress others in the same society. Collectables however represent the thoughts, perception and liking of the owners.
There is a website called The affluent page. One can find hundreds of ways for having fun in this website. Rich and wealthy people, who never got a chance to enjoy, can visit the site and book for a holyday trip. The site also let its wealthy consumers to book hotels, flights and yachts through its reservation system. It means, one does not have to worry about a thing. Once she / he choose the trip, the website will do the rest.
REGINALD JOURDAN is the author of this article on Luxury Consumer Magazine.
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