FOR THE RECORD: No COMMENT column in the week before the holiday break but for the record the BA piloting issue raised on 12 December has secured a record postbag. What is clear is that many BA pilots do fly at least 800 hours a year and that many of the archaic rules of the 1980s have disappeared, with for the most part (and where practical) flight deck crews only having a single overnight on typical mid-range flights such as New York. Virgin has a maximum 750-hour annual programme but Sir Richard keeps his pilots flying up to the age of 60, the CAA captaincy limit, whereas BA calls for retirement at 55. VS flight deck crew get overtime when they go over their contract hours, said to be very lucrative and something the airline tries to keep to a minimum. Keen BA retirees have been known to transfer to the Virgin 747 fleet when their time was up. What has been highlighted is the aircrew situation when a European Union directive comes into force next year forcing companies to keep staff on until 60. If BA has to extend its pilot retirement age all sorts of problems will be caused. BA”s recruiting will be minimum for up to five years and the opportunity of making the jump from first officer to captain will also take longer. Just how many of the 55+ brigade will fail their medicals as they get older is also open to speculation. What happens if the British government extends the retirement age to 67? With cabin crew, can a 59-year old perform as well as someone of 25?