July 7, 2002

My name is Brad Boyer. I have over thirty years of experience as an electronics engineer, This sees to have suddenly made me unemployable! In the 1970s I did what many of the techies then and now do, went to work to work on cutting edge projects and I did not complete my engineering degree, I do however have a diploma in Computer Technology (1972) . Although I have a long record of technical and project management successes: I never was accused of being over qualified -- until I turned 52! After having been turned down for several positions for which I had relevant experience: the stated reason is always that I am overqualified! This I do not understand, as I always hired people for my projects which knew more than I did! I always figured if a guy was desperate enough to work on a project that he was overqualified for, he would know more than was required and might even be able to help me if was doing something stupid!

A manager with smart people is often given credit for being smarter and more talented than he really is! In the course of my work I was put in charge of developing new computer systems, Naval communications and developing computer based medical equipment, all of which performed as required! At 51 I found my self downsized in December of 2001. The R&D department I worked for was mostly let go when the company had a hold up in FDA approval in its new medical device. The device was approved a month after, but the company was going to focus on marketing rather than development. I had been hired away and paid a large employment bonus only eleven months before.

Even though it was after 9-11, I was not concerned as I had much experience on military and government projects, including work on "antiterrorist" devices, communications and IFF radar! I figured I would be a shoo in to work on the newly funded defense projects. This did not happen and I have been out of work for almost 8 months. When I sought advice about how to fix my resume, I was told to remove 3/4 of my job experience and to not mention having worked with the military!

When I finally confronted one of my "top" headhunters if he thought my age was a problem, He said of course not! but you know, your resume is very intimidating! I said I didn't understand, he said "well you do have a lot of experience!" ... and this makes them feel that you are over qualified!

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May 20, 2002

Frank,

Since the events of 911, the traveling public is very much concerned about airline safety.

Commercial pilots are the only employee group still subjected to age discrimination. They are forced to retire at age 60. The FAA has recently released their forecast for the airline industry. In the next two years, there will be much higher flying levels than existed prior to 911. Now, couple that with the projected loss of thousands of our most experienced captains to the "Age 60 Rule" and it does not stead well for a safe airline system.

With the events of 911 still heavy in our hearts and minds it is of paramount importance going forward to have the highest experience level possible in our airline cockpits. Experience, by definition is acquired with time. There are no short cuts. Are we willing to place the traveling public "at risk" over an inappropriate and archaic rule? It simply makes more sense to eliminate this discriminatory rule.

In 1959, the FAA promulgated this arbitrary and capricious "Age 60 Rule". Today, this unrealistic position is rendered invalid not only by the medical and empirical data available but also by the fact virtually every modern nation engaged in air commerce has eliminated or at least modified their age 60 rule. Many of these foreign pilots over 60 now fly into US airspace.

There are two bills in Congress, S.361 and H.R. 448. They raise the age of mandatory retirement to 63 and 65 respectively. It is important to write or call your elected Representatives. There is a national petition website at <http://www.petitiononline.com/noto60/> in which you can add your name to the growing list of petitioners. Lets put an end to this violation of our age discrimination laws and the decay of the safest airline system in the world.

Respectfully submitted,

Captain Frank Iafrate, United Airlines

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July 23, 2001

Mr. Frank Kaiser c/o Milestones 246 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19103

Dear Mr. Kaiser

You're so right about being a dinosaur at a ripe old age, but substitute 50 instead of 60, and with today's downsizings, maybe even 40.

You're actually a latecomer to the reality. You may have missed my letter published in the Inquirer two or three years ago, but as a mature college graduate of the mid-seventies, i've been fighting the good fight for a number of years. I decided to give up the fight when my career was cut short by downsizing.

If I added a postscript to the article, it would probably read: if "old soldiers never die," what epitaph would you use for old writers?

(a) They try freelancing.
(b) They write letters to newspapers.
(c) They keep thinking about the book they could or should write.
(d) All of the above.

One thing is for sure; employers are not only missing the boat, they're missing a veritable treasure trove of humor, knowledge and savvy.

More's the pity!

Cordially
Chris Hayes
3652 Salina Rd.
Phila., PA 19154