A group of US pilots have failed in their bid to annul the Federal Aviation Administration's long-standing policy that pilots must retire when they are 60 years old. Having already lost their legal case against the FAA claiming age discrimination, the 12 pilots were appealing to the US Supreme Court to overturn the judgement. Backed by low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines, they were trying to force an increase in the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65. The airline claimed the rule "arbitrarily deprives Southwest Airlines of some of its best pilots at the peak of their careers". Adopted in the 1950s, the FAA retirement age automatically prevents pilots from continuing to fly past 60, regardless of their health or competence. The earlier judgement said that the safety of passengers should take precedence over employment protection laws.
Source: Flight International
