easyJet and BALPA launch joint campaign against ban on pilots over 60 by France, Italy, and Portugal
In an unprecedented move easyJet and pilots' union BALPA (British Airline Pilots' Association) today (Monday 1 December 2003) launched a joint campaign to persuade France, Portugal and Italy to drop their 'outdated, anachronistic' rules which forbid pilots over 60 in command of an aircraft to fly in their airspace.
The vast majority of EU member states, new member states and applicant countries, have adopted EU rules (JAR-FCL requirements 1 and 3) which allow pilots over 60 but under 65 to act as commanders on international flights in their airspace. France, Italy and Portugal do not allow pilots over 60 to operate in their airspace as commanders despite allowing them to operate as co-pilots until the age of 65. This discrepancy is not only discriminatory towards pilots but also distorts the level playing field for carriers such as easyJet with a diverse workforce.
easyJet, the fastest growing airline in the UK, is expanding its fleet of aircraft and will require a large number of pilots in the coming years - many of whom are likely to be over 60.
"This is a crazy situation," said BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan. "It's outdated and anachronistic. Pilots are the most rigorously checked workers in the world with regular medical examinations. It's a nonsense to say pilots over 60 cannot command an aircraft. It's not as if a captain in command of the aircraft can pass over to the co-pilot when the plane enters French, Portuguese or Italian airspace. These nations will not accept that either. They declare that the Captain who signs for the aircraft, who is in command of the aircraft, must be 60 or younger or they can't fly."
Ray Webster, easyJet Chief Executive, said: "This is a big issue for fast-growing airlines like easyJet. We are increasingly looking to expand in Europe and will expect our pilot workforce to be able to operate anywhere across Europe. Restricting the rights of qualified pilots to operate in certain airspace is discriminatory and distorts the EU single market. The practice should be called to a halt immediately."
easyJet and BALPA have written jointly to European transport commissioner Ms De Palacio, declaring that the French, Portuguese and Italian position not only threatens pilots' jobs and an expansion of easyJet but is an obstacle to achieving many of the key objectives of EU aviation policy - chiefly the liberalisation of air transport - and goes against the work being done on international harmonisation.
easyJet and BALPA declare that they believe the discrimination of France, Portugal and Italy will be made unlawful when the European Employment Directive (2000/78/EC) is fully implemented on 1 October 2006 but see no reason why the current practice should be allowed to continue until that date.
The Commission is urged to review current legislation as a matter of urgency with a view to ensuring that all EU states permit pilots over 60 but under 65 to operate as commanders in all EU airspace. easyJet and BALPA are seeking a meeting.
"We are also taking this issue to the British Government," Jim McAuslan said. "We and the airline have made a joint response to the Government's Age Equality Diversity Matters consultation pointing out that pilots age 60 or over are some of our most experienced and highly skilled aviators. Something has to be done about this gross discrimination."
In addition to the European Commission, easyJet and BALPA are also jointly approaching the French, Italian and Portuguese transport ministries.
In an unprecedented move easyJet and pilots' union BALPA (British Airline Pilots' Association) today (Monday 1 December 2003) launched a joint campaign to persuade France, Portugal and Italy to drop their 'outdated, anachronistic' rules which forbid pilots over 60 in command of an aircraft to fly in their airspace.
The vast majority of EU member states, new member states and applicant countries, have adopted EU rules (JAR-FCL requirements 1 and 3) which allow pilots over 60 but under 65 to act as commanders on international flights in their airspace. France, Italy and Portugal do not allow pilots over 60 to operate in their airspace as commanders despite allowing them to operate as co-pilots until the age of 65. This discrepancy is not only discriminatory towards pilots but also distorts the level playing field for carriers such as easyJet with a diverse workforce.
easyJet, the fastest growing airline in the UK, is expanding its fleet of aircraft and will require a large number of pilots in the coming years - many of whom are likely to be over 60.
"This is a crazy situation," said BALPA General Secretary Jim McAuslan. "It's outdated and anachronistic. Pilots are the most rigorously checked workers in the world with regular medical examinations. It's a nonsense to say pilots over 60 cannot command an aircraft. It's not as if a captain in command of the aircraft can pass over to the co-pilot when the plane enters French, Portuguese or Italian airspace. These nations will not accept that either. They declare that the Captain who signs for the aircraft, who is in command of the aircraft, must be 60 or younger or they can't fly."
Ray Webster, easyJet Chief Executive, said: "This is a big issue for fast-growing airlines like easyJet. We are increasingly looking to expand in Europe and will expect our pilot workforce to be able to operate anywhere across Europe. Restricting the rights of qualified pilots to operate in certain airspace is discriminatory and distorts the EU single market. The practice should be called to a halt immediately."
easyJet and BALPA have written jointly to European transport commissioner Ms De Palacio, declaring that the French, Portuguese and Italian position not only threatens pilots' jobs and an expansion of easyJet but is an obstacle to achieving many of the key objectives of EU aviation policy - chiefly the liberalisation of air transport - and goes against the work being done on international harmonisation.
easyJet and BALPA declare that they believe the discrimination of France, Portugal and Italy will be made unlawful when the European Employment Directive (2000/78/EC) is fully implemented on 1 October 2006 but see no reason why the current practice should be allowed to continue until that date.
The Commission is urged to review current legislation as a matter of urgency with a view to ensuring that all EU states permit pilots over 60 but under 65 to operate as commanders in all EU airspace. easyJet and BALPA are seeking a meeting.
"We are also taking this issue to the British Government," Jim McAuslan said. "We and the airline have made a joint response to the Government's Age Equality Diversity Matters consultation pointing out that pilots age 60 or over are some of our most experienced and highly skilled aviators. Something has to be done about this gross discrimination."
In addition to the European Commission, easyJet and BALPA are also jointly approaching the French, Italian and Portuguese transport ministries.
