Two retired Air Canada pilots can fly

Originally published by United Press International on November 8th, 2010. To go to the United Press International website please click here

OTTAWA, Nov. 8 (UPI) — A tribunal in Canada ruled two former Air Canada pilots should be given their jobs back after years of challenging their forced retirements.

George Vilven, 67, and Neil Kelly, 65, were forced to retired in 2003 and 2005, respectively, when they reached 60, Postmedia reported Monday.

They took their case to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, which ruled on August 2009 their forced retirement was improper. On Monday the Tribunal ruled the two could fly again.

The airline said if they took training they had missed in their absences they could have their jobs back.

The Tribunal said the pilots were entitled to wages lost from August 2009, but not dating back to their retirements.

The Tribunal also said the decision applied only to the two pilots and would not be considered a class-action case.

“It’s good news, bad news, definitely,” said Susan Eng, vice president of advocacy at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons.

Although the airline agreed to rehire the two pilots, it is also appealing the 2009 decision that said their retirements were not justified, Postmedia reported.

© United Press International

Keywords: mandatory retirement