A French pilots' campaign group has lodged a complaint with the European Commission against a French decree that restricts pilots over the age of 60 from operating commercial flights.
The 1997 decree, which is policed by the French transport ministry, applies only to pilots working for French carriers. Once pilots reach 60, they must be withdrawn from commercial operations.
Jean Serrat, president of the PNT65 campaign group, says: "We have been fighting for more than three years to try to have the same rules as other European pilots."
He says ICAO switched its recommendation from 60 to 65 years last November and is urging France to follow suit.
PNT65's complaint is not shared by France's largest pilots' union, the SNPL, which says it does not want the 60 limit to change. "More than 80% of our pilots don't want to change the limit," it says.
Source: Flight International
