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'Ageism' row raises fears on air safety
Tim Stewart27 Feb 2009
SAFETY fears have been raised after a tribunal ordered the air traffic control service Nats to scrap its "ageist" ban on recruiting trainees older than 35.
Nats justified the ban on safety grounds - saying research shows the performance of controllers declines with age.
But Peter Baker, 51, successfully challenged the policy after being rejected for a post because of his age. In a landmark judgment, a panel at Central London Employment Tribunal ruled the age limit was irrational and arbitrary, and amounted to discrimination.
Nats today said it is "disappointed" the tribunal rejected its safety claims, and is considering an appeal. A spokesman said: "We introduced this age limit after independent research showed the skills required... decline markedly after 45."
"Our interest is to provide a safe, effective air traffic control service."
Mr Baker's solicitor Virginia Allen, said: "The tribunal found there are already a number of stringent safety measures in place to assess the performance of air traffic controllers.
"The suggestion it would suddenly be unsafe to introduce a 51-year-old was not made by the evidence."
Reader views (3)
I'd feel safer in the hands of older air traffic controllers. They've had more experience and are less likely to come to work suffering from hangovers or lack of sleep.
- Adrian Miles, Sutton, Surrey, 02/03/2009 08:47
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Who's raising the safety fears? No one mentioned in this article is raising safety fears. Was the comment just added to sensationalize the story?
- Phil Jones, London UK, 28/02/2009 11:38
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The pilot who landed safely in the Hudson was well past 45 years old. What skills decline markedly, then?
- Blackstone Coke, London, 27/02/2009 22:43
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