Opinion ID: 380995
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Heading: Cholesterol.

Text: J. Triglycerides. K. Serologic test for syphilis. L. Complete peripheral blood counts (red blood count, white blood count, hemoglobin). M. Chemical and microscopic examination of urine. 9 13. A Production Test Pilot is expected to use engineering abilities while piloting recently assembled production aircraft through a series of prescribed tests and maneuvers in order to functionally evaluate items such as the air-frame, navigation and radar systems, power plant and other items for final company acceptance before delivery to the customer. (Houghton v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., supra, 474 F.Supp. at 196.) 10 The district court's rulings indicate some inconsistency in construing our mandate. In its memorandum order of June 1, 1978, the district court, in referring to the mandate said: This language is quite clear. The Court of Appeals found that plaintiff was physically qualified to fly when he was discharged. It has instructed this Court to determine if he is still qualified and, if so, to reinstate him. (Houghton v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., No. 73 C 14 (2) (E.D.Mo., June 1, 1978) (order denying partial summary judgment).) In its opinion of June 29, 1979, the district court viewed the mandate somewhat differently. The court said: The plain meaning of the Order remanding this case is that although defendant did not meet the burden of proof applied by that court with respect to the bona fide occupational qualification defense, § 4(f)(1) of the ADEA, 29 U.S.C. § 623(f)(1) on the evidence introduced, plaintiff was not automatically entitled to the protection, and defendant was not automatically subject to the prohibition of the age seventy (70) rule contained in 29 U.S.C. § 631(a). This is interpreted by the court as a salient inference that at some point age may be a bona fide occupational qualification for plaintiff Houghton. Whether plaintiff is still physically capable of qualifying for Chief Production Test Pilot is a question appurtenant only to plaintiff's abilities as extrapolated from age-related factors. (Houghton v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., supra, 474 F.Supp. at 194.) 11 See discussion at p. 865 supra 12 The court specifically withdrew language which appeared to adopt the appellants' theory that all disabilities are measurable and predictable. See note 6 supra 13 If the question had been open to the district court, we would be hard pressed to sustain the court's finding of disqualification at age fifty-two. Dr. Carter referred to aging of pilots in the lower fifties as a gray area. Houghton v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., supra, 474 F.Supp. at 201-02. Morever, Dr. Carter's personal opinion of a cutoff date at age fifty for a test pilot, although based upon his experience in examining thousands of pilots, lacks documentation and probably does not suffice to overcome the per se violations otherwise established, as noted in Houghton I, 553 F.2d at 564 14 Appellants note that, once learned, the pilots performed the skill equally. Clearly, however, the amount of training time is a relevant consideration for the position of test pilot. Moreover, the study demonstrates a specific, age-related impairment in the abstract function 15 The FAA's rule barring certification of commercial airline pilots after age 60 is codified at 14 C.F.R. 121.383(c) (1980). This rule has survived both procedural and substantive attacks. See Rombough v. FAA, 594 F.2d 893 (2d Cir. 1979); Starr v. FAA, 589 F.2d 307 (7th Cir. 1978); O'Donnell v. Shaffer, 491 F.2d 59 (D.C.Cir.1974); Airline Pilots Association, International v. Quesada, 276 F.2d 892 (2d Cir. 1960), cert. denied, 366 U.S. 962, 81 S.Ct. 1923, 6 L.Ed.2d 1254 (1961) 16 We make no comment on the defense asserted by McDonnell Douglas that Houghton's damages should be reduced because he allegedly failed to mitigate his wage loss. This issue remains for consideration by the trial court 17 At oral argument, appellants made some suggestion that this court itself make the award, considering that the case has now been tried twice. We decline to do so. Notwithstanding the tortuous history of this litigation, including reversals on the merits, we feel that the able district judge handling this case can be fair to all the parties. We remand the case to him for further proceedings. He may, in light of the history of this litigation, if he wishes to do so, transfer the cause to another judge of the district court for assessment of backpay, costs, and attorneys' fees