Viewing page 41 of 49

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

May 21, 1968  
Aviation DAILY  
Page 116

LABOR OFFICIALS STRESSES EXCEPTIONS TO AGE BIAS LAW; SINGLES OUT PILOT RETIREMENT

A Labor Department official emphasized that the new age discrimination in employment act, which goes into effect on June 12, provides for what he calls "reasonable exceptions," and one of these is the compulsory retirement of FAA-regulated pilots from the airlines at the age of 60.

Addressing a Federal Bar Assn. meeting last week, Clarence T. Lundquist, administrator, wage and hour and public contracts division, said "While the act is intended to protect and promote employment opportunities of the older worker, its provisions are not so stringent as to leave no latitude for reasonable exceptions."

Lundquist's remarks underscore a recent action by FAA in denying a petition of the Air Line Pilots Assn. for a review of the retire-at-60 rule (DAILY, March 20, April 25). ALPA had claimed that the rule conflicts with the administration's own law to prevent discrimination due to age. 

Age is a bonafide occupational qualification, the Labor Department official said, "where it is reasonably necessary to the normal operation of a particular business." But he warned that this is a limited concept and it will be interpreted narrowly. 

"Illustrative of the proper application of the exception," he continued, "are cases where federal statutory and regulatory requirements provide compulsory age limitations as to hiring or compulsory retirement of the safety and convenience of the public. The exception could apply, for example, to airline pilots within the jurisdiction of the FAA regulations setting a 60-year retirement age for pilots in carrier operations."

Lindquist's division is charged with the responsibility to make investigations of the age discrimination law as well as to issue rules and regulations to administer it. 

NAVY DEVELOPS NEW FIRE-FIGHTING MATERIAL

The Naval Air Systems Command has developed a new variety of extinguishing agent called "Light Water," which it claims will quench an aircraft fire 5 to 12 times as quickly as any similar material. Commercial development and manufacturing of the fluorochemical foaming agent has been turned over to the 3M Co., St. Paul, Minn. 

"Light Water" is a substance that can either be aerated into foam to smother flames or mixed with water, forming a layer or skin on top of gasoline or hydrocarbon fuels to separate the liquid fuel from its flammable vapors. A six percent fluorocarbon surfactant concentrate is combined with water to produce the agent. 

Davis M. Shryer, product manager in 3M's Chemical division, said that fire control officials at Los Angeles International Airport conducted tests with "Light Water," arousing the interest of civilian airport officials. "The introduction soon of new jet passenger planes with capacity for several hundred persons and the daily increase in air traffic adds up to a situation that has airport fire chiefs worried," Shryer said. "They're already preparing for methods of quick flame control and rapid rescue to prevent a major tragedy."

Shryer estimated the new chemical extinguishes petroleum-based fires two to three times faster than conventional protein foam. Quick application would prevent the ignition of fires in case of spills while refueling a plan, an overturned fuel truck, or a major fuel tank leak. 

The Navy is presently using the compound at selected air stations and will soon extend the foam's distribution to all of its airfields. Naval helicopters are also being equipped with "Light Water" fire-fighting units, enabling them to fly to the scene of an aircraft fire and extinguish it from a hovering position. 

SADIA, S.A., Brazilian Airline took delivery of a Cessna Model 402 for daily feeder service between Brazilian cities.