Pilot ordered to stop flying solo at 60 claims age bias

Published on Monday 3 March 2008 21:12

A HELICOPTER pilot who was told he could not fly solo after the age of 60 claimed age discrimination yesterday, in a test case that could affect hundreds of other pilots.

Ian Evans argued that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was in breach of age discrimination laws, and said he was perfectly fit and healthy enough to continue with his job.

Under CAA regulations, he was told he could not pilot a helicopter by himself if he carried fare-paying passengers after his 60th birthday last April.

But the pilot, who has flown Tony Blair, David Cameron and Nelson Mandela around the UK, said he wanted to continue working until he was 65 and saw no reason why he should have to retire. He said he was losing work worth up to 20,000 a year because of the age restriction.

The CAA is contesting the charge of age discrimination brought by Mr Evans, a former army helicopter pilot from Suffolk, and will call a number of expert witnesses over the ten days set aside for the hearing.

The case continues.