WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3408/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Retirement provisions for pilots and flight attendants
Date: 1998-11-17
Institutions: ANGELILLI, European Parliament
Subjects: Italy, air transport, competence of the Member States, crew, health risk, life expectancy, occupational safety, retirement conditions, scientific research, social security













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91998E3408

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3408/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Retirement provisions for pilots and flight attendants  


Official Journal C 135 , 14/05/1999 P. 0186 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3408/98by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission(17 November 1998)Subject: Retirement provisions for pilots and flight attendantsThe Italian government has recently raised the minimum retirement age for flight attendants and pilots. This decision does not seem to have taken due account of the particularly damaging side-effects of flying, including disruption of sleeping patterns, exposure to dry and ozone-rich air, and exposure to levels of cosmic radiation three times higher than those to which radiographers are exposed. The combination of these factors over a period of many years has the effect of reducing the average life expectancy of air crew on retirement to considerably less than the general average. Yet at present no adequate scientific data is available on the subject, partly because the results of the research that has been carried out by the airlines have not been divulged to staff and unions.In view of the foregoing, would the Commission state:1. whether any Commission data or studies exist on the subject?2. whether there are any directives or other documents relating to retirement provisions for employees in this sector?3. what are the other Member States' provisions in this area?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission(21 December 1998)1. The Commission does not have any data or scientific studies on the life expectancy of this category of workers, and there is no specific directive relating to their retirement provisions.2. In the area of social protection, Member States are free to establish their own policies on the organisation and operation of social security schemes, provided they comply with Community law on equal treatment for men and women (Article 119 of the EC Treaty, Council Directive 79/7/EEC of 19 December 1978 on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security(1), and Council Directive 86/378/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes(2) as amended by Directive 96/97/EC(3)) and on social security for migrant workers(4). This means that Member States are free to set the retirement age for pilots and cabin crew, provided the above-mentioned Community provisions are complied with.3. As far as trends and policies in the other Member States are concerned, the Commission publishes comparative tables of social security schemes in a general context (MISSOC), but these do not refer specifically to pilots or cabin crew.(1) OJ L 6, 10.1.1979.(2) OJ L 225, 12.8.1986.(3) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.(4) Regulations (EEC) 1408/71 and 574/72 (as updated by Regulation (EC) 118/97 - OJ L 28, 30.1.1997).