Treatment for Experienced Act Fair

¶ … Treatment for Experienced Act

Fair Treatment

Analyzing the effects of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act on flight safety, pilots and Law Makers: A case study of U.S. Airways Flight 1549

Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act through which pilots above the age of 60 are allowed to serve in multi-crew operations as a commanding pilot particularly on international flights if there is another pilot on duty under the age of 60 as claimed from Aviation Online Magazine (2007). This law was ratified in the United States of America after being signed by former U.S. President George Bush on December 13, 2007. The law was developed by the U.S. Aviation Safety Standards authority (FAA, 2008). This was a new regulation that was included as part of the Federal Public Law 110-135 and came into effect for augmentation of the level of safety measures. The law was applied to all local and international airlines operating across the country. In addition, it is mandatory for the pilots to undergo different medical examinations because health status of the pilot is crucial for the safety of passengers and other crew members who are inside the aircraft. Hence under this law if a pilot who exceeded the age of 60 can operate as a pilot provided that he has a first-class medical examination certificate indicating that he or she is in good health condition. The Fair Treatment for Experienced Act is only applicable for all pilots that are already in their age of 60 and above. The reason is that there are reports of some aircraft accidents that occurred around the world including in the United States due to the poor health or health problems of the pilots who were in the age of sixties or above. They were suffering from different health problems that affected their aviation performance.

The Case of U.S. Airways Flight 1549

This section is focused at discussing the connection of Fair Treatment for Experienced Act to the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 accident. U.S. Airways Flight 1549 was a U.S. domestic commercial flight which departed from LaGuardia Airport, New York to the Douglas International Airport. The Airbus A320-214 took off from the LaGuardia Airport on January 15, 2009 but it eventually collided with a flying Canadian Geese just 3 minutes after its take off. The engine of the aircraft completely failed. When the pilots came to know that they were not able to reach any runway, as an alternate option they decided to glide the plane to the Hudson Bay and were able to land successfully in the Bay's surface area. All 155 individuals including crew members and passengers were safely landed. The passengers of the flight as well as crew members came out using the emergency ditching along the sides of the plane. For this successful landing and safely coming out, the crew of the flight was awarded with the Guild of Air Pilots and navigators Mater's Medal Award.

Part II: Discussion and Analysis of the Study

The incident that happened to U.S. Airways Flight 1549 has leverage to the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act because it was an incident that helped to improve the image of pilots in the age of 60. The proof is that the pilots of this flight successfully landed the plane without having any injuries or other health problems during landing or while ditching of the plane at the Hudson Bay. It is an incident that has an influence on the impression about pilots that are in the age of 60 and above in the eyes of U.S. lawmakers by convincing them to amend this particular law. This law will help to get away from all kinds of negative issues concerning the U.S. aviation reputation. The Fair Treatment for Experienced Act has been established containing conflicting issues that were considered to be against some aviation pilots due to the basis of their age. The incident that happened to the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 and the way the crew and pilot managed the safety issues reveals that there is a need to review the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act because some of the contents of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act hold divergent point-of-views regarding pilot safety. In addition, the events that happened during the ditching incident show that there was a successful coordination between the air navigation crew and flight attendants who efficiently implemented safety standards that resulted in zero casualties and injuries.

The main objective of implementing the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act is the aim of Federal government to improve the U.S. aviation safety in a whole new level as well as to increase the standards of airline safety. Another objective is to restructure the existing safety standards particularly with some guidelines that are no longer effective in the field of aviation industry and are blamed to be a cause of aviation accidents occurring not only across the United States but also all over the world.

The Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots act raised many concerns among the professional and licensed pilots because they are skeptical about their future when they reach the age of 60. According to the FAA, one of the reasons for the implementation of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act is the numerous aviation accidents that were proved to be the result of human errors. Human errors that were found out behind these accidents were being caused by pilots who were suffering from different health issues wherein most of the pilots were already at the age of 60. It has been found that people in the age of 60 are more vulnerable to acquire different disease and this risk can affect their performance in their career such as driving the aircraft. These are some of the issues that may have significant affect to the Airline safety as well as for the integrity of all operating pilots.

Generally there are divided opinions about this act. There are concerns on the part of pilots as well as their well wishers because the senior pilots are being affected by this act. There are considerable sensitive issues that affect the pilots in the new aviation system. There will be an increased public uprising that may take place regarding the issue on age discrimination. This will be capitalized for the statements being made can cause triggering conflicts specifically with the human rights advocate groups. There will be a public pressure against government officials who proposed and signed Fair Treatment for Experienced Act based on the issue of age discrimination because there will be some claim that it was a violation against anti-discrimination act. This will provide additional leverage. The incident that happened with Boeing A320-214 can be used by public and social advocate groups in support of the claim. It will raise awareness regarding the discrimination act against elderly individuals in employment and it will become more effective through public protest or the freedom of expression on streets. On the other side there are some positive opinions on the side of public. Those who believe that age consideration would be better to prevent from any potential accidents. In addition, the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act can be viewed as new alternative safety standard guidelines that will change the pace of implementing safety management of aviation across the United States as well as international aviation.

The incident occurred to Airbus A320-214 can be beneficial for those who were affected by the Fair Treatment law for the reason that the incident can be used as a basis to restructure the said law. The impression will be more pleasing because the lawmakers will have an additional option and basis that will provoke for the amendment of Fair Treatment for Experienced Act. This will help the lawmakers to realize that pilots in the age of 60 or above have significant experience, knowledge, and skills that make them capable for flying commercial airbus aircraft with full quality services and with full dignity (USNRC, 2007).

Pilots in the age 60 who have applied to amend the law will be hopeful to get back their privileges as operating pilots in all local and international flight operations. The process of influence will be focusing more on the non-human related errors that include bird strike incidents, severe weather patterns such as storms and thunder strikes. These reasons are mostly the cause of numerous aviation related accidents while the plane is in the air. There will be a more positive impression on the public because of the successful safety and emergency management that was witnessed by the crew members in the aftermath of the plane's ditching along the surface o the Hudson Bay.

Another positive impact will be on the level of flight safety for the reason that there will be a decrease in the level of providing safety measures as fewer senior pilots will be training incoming new pilots with less experience. There will be lesser role models and inspiration for other pilots and thus their dependence on leadership skills for safety management will be lessened that will produce higher risks for the aviation safety (Fritzpatrick, 2008).

There are also challenges that will emerge from the provision of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act due to its impact on the Aviation safety standards and guideline principles. These impacts include stricter measures regarding safety standards which comprises giving more firm limitations for pilots that are in the age of 60 and above and this will cause more dilemmas for other senior pilots who are responsible for guiding next generation of pilots (Brazy, 2008). There are some claims that the credibility of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act has been degraded because of its consideration of age sensitive requirements particularly with the operating pilots.

The degree of discriminatory actions was considered as a violation and as a challenge for the reason that there is a segregation of particular groups known to be prohibited by the Federal law of the United States. Political pressure can also be a challenge because there are opposition lawmakers who are currently trying to challenge the integrity of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Act due to its insensitive statements and on its policy provisions that is affecting numerous flight attendants and flight operators. (Steve Weiberg, 2011)

The extent of safety measures are also being questioned because the presence of senior pilots in a significant numbers who are responsible for guiding the team of flight operators responsible for implementing the high quality standards of airline safety management. There will also be economic challenges because of the fact that the limitation of pilots in the age group of 60 and above decreases profitability measures. This will happen because there will be safety risks resultantly driving the passengers away who are the main contributors of the airline industry productivity.