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Captain Michael A. Gitt testified that he was sixty-one years of age on May 13, 1969, and flew his last trip on May 12, 1968 (T. 150). He had been a 'check' pilot in 1948, and had also instructed pilots to obtain their A.T.R. (Air Transport Ratings). He has been a ferry pilot on numerous occasions (T. 151). He has tested and overhauled airplanes. He has flown approximately 25,000 hours and has never had an accident (T. 152). He is qualified in jet aircraft such as the DC-8-20 series, -50series, -60 series and one or two other series, and the Boeing 720. These are the four kinds of jets that Eastern flies. (T. 153). He has never been marked down in proficiency, nor been rejected for any position on the line because of a lack of flying skill or other qualifications, and has never been the subject of criticism for his flying skill, to his knowledge, (T. 153).  In January, 1969, he wrote to Mr. Higginbottom, Vice President, Operations Group, Eastern Airlines, and requested a position. He received an answer in February stating they had no job for him. He filed a complaint in March, 1969. At a hearing on April 24, 1969, he talked to a Mr. Kornbluth, the Senior Field Representative for Eastern, who was conducting the hearing. This was in the presence of Captain Halliburton and Mr. Harlan, the attorney for Eastern Airlines. They stated that there might be something they could do for him concerning a job. A few days later he went to see Captain Halliburton in Miami, Florida, but Captain Halliburton refused to employ him.

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