Alan Simpson: “I should like to address a critical issue that is very familiar to Members of this body who have been involved with the…”

“I should like to address a critical issue that is very familiar to Members of this body who have been involved with the Federal Aviation Administration--it is the ``age 60 rule.'' In 1959, the FAA implemented a regulation to prohibit pilots, having reached the age of 60, from flying jets regulated by part 121 of the FAA regulations--that is, passenger-carrying jets with more than 30 seats. This year, the FAA has extended that ban to include commuter jets with more than 10 seats. I do not want to hold up this very important bill in order to carry out a lengthy debate on whether or not the ban is justifiable. I am not here to overturn that rule. Indeed, few of us here would be in any way qualified to do such a thing. Instead, I believe the FAA must certainly be willing to treat pilots over the age of 60 in a manner that is fair and consistent with its treatment of other pilots. The FAA, acting in the interest of public safety has concluded that pilots--however experienced they may be--over the age of 60 should not be allowed to fly. I would submit, however, that this conclusion has not been supported through any independent study. It can not be accurately studied because no U.S. pilot over the age of 60 has been allowed to fly ``part 121'' aircraft at any time during the last 36 years.”