Outsourcing Pilots

I have on my computer a blistering e-mail attacking ALPA, the union of many airline pilots. This diatribe cometh not from hardhearted management or flaming free-market entrepreneurial types, but from airline pilots. You may well know that the International Civil Aeronautics Association (ICAO) is reported to be in the final stages of changing the so called Age 60 Rule so that airline pilots elsewhere can fly to age 65 rather than age 60. The ruling has no legal force in the U.S., however. At least not for U.S. pilots employed by U.S. companies. It’s not quite that simple, of course, but basically, foreign airlines flying to, from, and over the U.S. will be able to use pilots over age 60. U.S. airlines will not. The U.S. guvmint has thus mandated and ALPA—which I imagine has more young pilots than old pilots—is not fighting it. The result is predictable. Many pilots will retire from American, Delta, United, FedEx, US Airways (and other companies then still in business), then go to work for foreign airlines. These older pilots will be landing right behind and just in front of 59-year-old pilots at MIA, JFK, LAX, et al. The e-mail I received says that at least one U.S. air carrier already has plans to sell the company to a foreign entity, then use pilots over age 60. (Foreign ownership of airlines operating in the U.S. has been restricted, but that, too, seems to be easing.) Many pilots say this entire situation will be used to squeeze pilot salaries, and I rather expect they are right. I wonder how it will come out. We'd love to post your comments. Click the comment box at the top.