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Air New Zealand's elderly pilots 'refusing to quit'
- Air New Zealand has dozens of pilots aged over 60, and some over 70, flying some of its biggest planes because they're "creaming it" and refuse to quit.
That's according to one pilot who has told a New Zealand newspaper their refusal to retire was hampering the career prospects of others and causing problems for the airline.
The revelations follow an Employment Court case in which eight pilots are suing Air New Zealand for millions, claiming they retired or were demoted between 2003 and 2006 without being told that international rules were changing that would have allowed them to continue in their positions.
Air New Zealand, like other airlines around the world, promotes its pilots according to seniority and the lifting of retirement age restrictions has seen many hang on to top earning positions longer than they might have otherwise expected.
Some 850 pilots are employed by and of these more than 100 are reported to be over the age of 60 and about three over 70.
While New Zealand has a liberal approach to retirement, international aviation rules prevent anyone over the age of 65 captaining a plane and the combined captain and first officer age is not allowed to exceed more than 120 years.
Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracy Mills, issued a statement saying the company operated under the rules and regulations set out by the relevant civil aviation authorities. "Air New Zealand has a comprehensive policy for our pilots which exceeds the regulatory requirements," she said.
New Zealand Airline Pilots Association acting president Glen Kenny, said Air New Zealand's promotion regime was no different to that used by other airlines around the world. New Zealand had led the way with human rights legislation preventing age discrimination, he said. "You have to look at the big picture." But there will still be opportunities for young pilots down the track, Mr Kenny said. The aviation industry in Asia-Pacific was expected to almost double in size during the next 20 years.
Source: The Nelson Mail/stuff.co.nz
