We’re dealing with a pilot shortage in the United States. While regional airlines are most impacted by this, the reality is that the implications go way beyond that (including giving pilots at many airlines the opportunity to negotiate incredibly lucrative contracts, given how in demand they are).
There are different solutions being proposed to help with the pilot shortage. For example, a major regional airline asked the FAA to lower the minimum number of hours for airline pilots from 1,500 to 750 in conjunction with more rigorous training, though that proposal was rejected.
We could soon see another solution to this issue, in the form of the pilot retirement age being increased. This was first discussed back in May 2022, but is increasingly gaining traction. Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have just voted in favor of this, bringing it one stop closer to becoming a reality.
In this post:
Legislation could increase pilot retirement age
In July 2022, Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Republican Texas Congressman Chip Roy introduced the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act.” With this bill, we’d see the retirement age for commercial airline pilots raised by two years, from 65 to 67.
In March 2022, this gained support from seven Senators, including Democratic West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, and Democratic Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (who is also a former Navy pilot and astronaut).
Not only that, but today a US House committee narrowly voted in favor of this. Specifically, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted 32 to 31 to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age. The vote came in the context of an amendment to a proposed five year bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety and infrastructure programs. Now we’ll see how a US Senate committee votes on this issue.
Under this proposal, the pilot retirement age would be raised to 67, and pilots over 65 would have to undergo a rigorous medical screening every six months. 5,000 pilots in the United States are expected to be forced to retire in the next two years, and if this legislation passes, this would allow them to continue flying.
This would be the second time in recent years that the pilot retirement age is raised. Back in 2007, the commercial airline pilot retirement age in the United States was raised from 60 to 65.
That not only reflected that people are generally living longer, but it was also at a time when airlines were on the brink of liquidation, and many pilots lost some of their pensions and took huge pay cuts during bankruptcy proceedings. The extra five years was almost intended as a way for them to earn back some of the money they lost.
Does raising the pilot retirement age make sense?
On the surface, raising the pilot retirement age to 67 makes sense to me:
- Pilots have to undergo recurrent training and medical exams, and they’ll only continue to be able to fly if they’re deemed to be fit to do so
- Many people don’t actually want to retire at 65, so after they’re forced to retire from the airlines, they go fly for private jet operators (where the same retirement age doesn’t apply)
- Forcing “fit” people to retire at an arbitrary age just seems silly to me
Even so, I suspect this won’t go very far, when push comes to shove. How will this play out with pilots, unions, airline management, and government officials?
- Pilots are split on this, which I find a bit strange, assuming that flying for an extra two years is optional, and nothing is taken away if pilots still want to retire at 65; the only downside might be for more junior pilots, as their seniority may be partially “stalled” for two years (then again, that won’t be a huge issue with the current shortage, given how fast pilots are being promoted)
- Most unions have come out against this, but then again, they were also opposed to the retirement age being raised from 60 to 65; keep in mind that the pilot shortage works to the advantage of unions, as it allows them to secure very lucrative contracts, where some pilots are making $500K+ per year
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has suggested that this won’t do much in the long run to help with the pilot shortage, and he isn’t generally supportive of this concept
- If anything, airlines might be most opposed to this in the long run, because it will mean that more pilots are at the top of the pay scale, since pilot pay accounts for how many years you’ve been at the airline; airlines largely prefer more junior employees, who aren’t topping out the pay scale
- The Regional Airline Association (RAA) has strongly come out in favor of this, as 400 regional jets are parked due to lack of pilots, and 324 airports have lost an average of one-third of their service; the president of the organization argues that this is “the one solution that will immediately mitigate the pilot shortage, particularly the captain shortage, which is an even more acute constraint within a constraint,” and that this would reduce “wrongheaded age discrimination against healthy pilots”
Based on the surveys sent out by unions to members, a majority of pilots seem to oppose this. Then again, those who oppose it can still retire at 65. I don’t know why those who want to keep flying should be prevented from doing so, though. With the lucrative contracts being secured at some airlines right now, I can’t help but wonder if some pilots on the cusp of retirement might now want to keep flying for ~$500K per year.
In fairness, I think it’s important to acknowledge that being a pilot can take a major toll on your health in the long run. It’s often the most senior pilots flying the biggest planes and longest flights (since it’s all seniority based, and those are most lucrative). Working a 15 hour flight at the age of 65+ can’t be easy.
Bottom line
We’re seeing a proposal that would raise the airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 gaining traction. This was first proposed by some US Senators, and has now been narrowly voted in favor of by a US House committee. While this wouldn’t entirely solve the pilot shortage, letting pilots have longer careers seems like it would help somewhat.
That being said, I suspect we might not actually see this work out. There will likely be too much opposition from all sides, including pilots, unions, and even airlines. Airlines don’t want to be paying pilots the top of the pay scales, and unions have an incentive to keep the pilot shortage going, so that they can negotiate big contracts.
What do you make of the prospect of the pilot retirement age being increased?
I’m in favor of raising the age to 67… and do it now!
This is de facto age discrimination, why is it still being allowed? Australia and New Zealand have no pilot retirement age because age discrimination is against the law, what a concept.
Age discrimination is illegal. The old ALPA opposed and fought against age discrimination and now they are publicly participating in this illegal activity. Age 67 will happen and ALPA and those that actively promote age discrimination will face the legal consequences. Health and ability to competently do the job are the only two things that matter not age.
How can they deny the fact that a pilot that can pass a Medical every six months and has a mental acuity to fly can do the job .. they should be able to work until 67 especially since they increase d the retirement age for most of these guys to 67. Plus we have a President over 80.
Really?
I have been an aviation medical examiner (the physician that certifies pilots for health) for over 35 years. There was no scientific reason to have the retirement age at 60, so that change to 65 made sense. But analyzing statistics for health-related problems in flying shows a definitive increase in problems after age 65.
Let the experts decide, not the economics of the situation.
The medicals are a joke and you know that.
My AME I’m in and out in 15 mins tops. How’s health, vitals, pee in a cup, DEFPOTEC 20/20. Then EKG. It’s a joke
Another clueless blogger writing about something he doesn't understand. No age 65+ pilot will be flying 16 hour flights. This is because ICAO doesn't allow it. So unless they find a domestic flight 16 hours long they won't be on any. The reasons are too numerous to list here why age 67 is a bad idea. Go get a corporate gig once you hit 65, don't ruin the career for all the junior guys. We just had 2 years of stagnation with covid and a recession looming.
So you just showed your cards. This is a seniority grab and nothing else. I know for a fact once increasing the age benefits you, then you are all in to bump it up. Obviously you're the standard basic greedy pilot just thinking about yourself and not the career for everybody ( scab mentality). It is going to 67 so get over it!
I’ve flown with many 63-65 year olds who are great and many who got their medicals and shouldn’t have. It would be disgusting to see this increase … the reason isn’t about doing what’s eighth for the pilots …. Really bad idea. Hurts everyone.
For crying out loud......age discrimination, really?.......every 121 pilot knew this was the regulation when they started their 121 career. It's better now than when it was 60. I know it's hard to leave that $450K/year job but gimmie a break. Plenty of other flying jobs out there, but yeah, they require you to work since you won't have the luxury of seniority and pay benefits you have been accustomed to but time to get real and face reality.
I'm for the age being raised as I am an airline pilot at the age of 64 1/2. I'd like to keep flying, and I see no reason not to if I can pass 2 rigorous physical exams per year and at least 2 recurrent evaluations in the simulator in the same time frame. If I can do pass those exams, why can't I fly? Moreover, if we can't depend on those physical exams and...
I'm for the age being raised as I am an airline pilot at the age of 64 1/2. I'd like to keep flying, and I see no reason not to if I can pass 2 rigorous physical exams per year and at least 2 recurrent evaluations in the simulator in the same time frame. If I can do pass those exams, why can't I fly? Moreover, if we can't depend on those physical exams and the recurrent evaluations and training to determine compentency...we have to ask ourselves why we're doing them at alll?
Gene Wentzel - B777
Junior pilots are against the raise because they think their retirement is too far away and will never arrive. It does. Very fast! Also, promotion to a Captain’s position via a faster “lane”, is always tempting. They should have patience and also realize one day, they’ll be the top numbers in seniority and be affected by the same rules, (and have junior pilots eagerly waiting for them to retire).
Please.
The top tier rates stand at 12 year mark for big carriers. The most experienced pilots at 30 age years in their careers make the same paycheck on the scale as a 12 year guy. Utter nonsense. This is ENTIRELY POLITICAL and driven by selfish unions (ALPA is the biggest). I am an instructor in B757 and B767s at a major carrier for 26 years. The other captains I work with run marathons...
Please.
The top tier rates stand at 12 year mark for big carriers. The most experienced pilots at 30 age years in their careers make the same paycheck on the scale as a 12 year guy. Utter nonsense. This is ENTIRELY POLITICAL and driven by selfish unions (ALPA is the biggest). I am an instructor in B757 and B767s at a major carrier for 26 years. The other captains I work with run marathons and participate in extreme sports. To suggest they are the finest at 64 years and 30 days, but "dangerous" at 65 is... laughable. One pilot, Capt. Ambrosi, the president of the airline pilots association "ALPA" couldn't stay in my draft on a mountain bike for 5 minutes, He sure enjoys extracting $6,000 per year in MANDATORY ALPA dues from me though! Let healthy pilots fly! The rest is politics.
Nothing less than age discrimination. To further harm pilots that have sacrificed and suffered through the atrocities in the airline industry during the 1990's. bankruptcy, retirement plans terminated, years of stagnation, would only be another slap in the face. For those who choose to continue to age 67 it could be a finical godsend. Also having the ability to take social security at full benefit age would only be fair.
Let's give the pilots...
Nothing less than age discrimination. To further harm pilots that have sacrificed and suffered through the atrocities in the airline industry during the 1990's. bankruptcy, retirement plans terminated, years of stagnation, would only be another slap in the face. For those who choose to continue to age 67 it could be a finical godsend. Also having the ability to take social security at full benefit age would only be fair.
Let's give the pilots an opportunity to somewhat salvage lost careers.
Nothing less than age discrimination.
So what? Many jobs have age discrimination, often for good reasons.
What makes pilots "special" in your mind, such that age discrimination shouldn't apply to them?
This just makes ALPA look foolish. They fought madatory retirement age for 20 years starting back in 1960. Today ALPA actively participates in age discrimination against its most senior members. Their arguments against 67 are based on false made up excuses. ALPA is simply coddling the junior pilots at the expense of those that sacrificed the most and the traveling public. Experience can not be bought it must be earned thru decades of real life...
This just makes ALPA look foolish. They fought madatory retirement age for 20 years starting back in 1960. Today ALPA actively participates in age discrimination against its most senior members. Their arguments against 67 are based on false made up excuses. ALPA is simply coddling the junior pilots at the expense of those that sacrificed the most and the traveling public. Experience can not be bought it must be earned thru decades of real life work. ALPA is made up of pilots that don't fly much if at all and play backroom politics at the detriment of its members.
Totally support this! Why don’t politicians look at it from the standpoint of more tax revenue coming in, and more people staying off of the soon to be defunct Social Security. It doesn’t have to be mandatory, it can be voluntary for those who wish to help a crippled industry, airlines care more about profit than safety.
Stagnation in promotions is a big issue with pilots as is subtle mental degradation which is difficult to measure on recurrent physical exams. Congressmen really shouldn’t be making this decision.
Flying Mag just came out with a really interesting opposition to the act.
https://www.flyingmag.com/airline-pilots-flying-to-age-67/
I’ve been a union member for 34 years, ALPA has never polled me on this issue. I’m 64 tomorrow, flying the international routes I think is less tiring than domestic, they fly 12-15 hour days, four or more flights per day, for 4-5 day trips. I fly one leg to Paris, layover 24 hours, one leg home, I feel better now than when I flew domestic. With today’s medical technology and smart watches that provide...
I’ve been a union member for 34 years, ALPA has never polled me on this issue. I’m 64 tomorrow, flying the international routes I think is less tiring than domestic, they fly 12-15 hour days, four or more flights per day, for 4-5 day trips. I fly one leg to Paris, layover 24 hours, one leg home, I feel better now than when I flew domestic. With today’s medical technology and smart watches that provide EKGs, why is the FAA allowed to arbitrarily set age 65 as the end of my commercial airline career?
Very good point! I am an ALPA member and I have NEVER been asked my opinion on this.
Why should carrier pay you top dollar when they can get a junior officer to fly for much less? It’s not about health. It’s about making more money.
Ben, the proposed law actually says medical exams are required every 6 months for those above age 60, not just those above 65.
They should apply the same retirement ages to govt officials.
For government officials, they want to retire as late as possible.
Lol would you want Biden to be your pilot
it's not Biden (who seems more. connected to. his own limits), but DiFi... she is, sadly, past it and isn't even in a position to understand thst she is past it.
it's not Biden (who seems more. connected to. his own limits), but DiFi
Why's it gotta be "or," when neither one of them has the mental acuity to be in there anymore, and I say that as a Leftie. It's sad what they're doing to these old people.
I train pilots at a major airline. Leaving this job makes sense for some and does not for others. How is it an overfed, bloated union (ALPA) can attack it's own senior pilots wishes and dictate when a perfectly healthy man or woman retires? ALPA is a business, like any other. They are now pandering to the newly hired "junior pilots", who were hired within the past 10 years and want the experienced senior guys...
I train pilots at a major airline. Leaving this job makes sense for some and does not for others. How is it an overfed, bloated union (ALPA) can attack it's own senior pilots wishes and dictate when a perfectly healthy man or woman retires? ALPA is a business, like any other. They are now pandering to the newly hired "junior pilots", who were hired within the past 10 years and want the experienced senior guys gone (so they can take over the left seat). This has nothing to do with safety. This is about money... BTW pay per seat tops out at 12 years, so a senior expert pilot makes no more per hour than a junior one in a given seat who has 12 years with most companies.
If pilots are required to retire at an arbitrary age, fine, put the same restrictions on the lawmakers who have such an influence on every facet of life.
For government officials, they want to retire as late as possible.
I am a Captain at Delta Airlines and I DO NOT WANT TO RETIRE AT 65. I AM HEALTHY AND work out 6 days a week. I’m stronger than most of my First Officers in their 20’s and 30’s. This is AGE DISCRIMINATION at its best.
This is so on brand for a Delta Captain.
That is so "brand envy".
I too work for a major, as big as Delta. Like the pilot you chastise, I work out 5-6 days a week, pass three physicals (2 FAA as well as my primary physician) a year and frankly with flying colors. I love flying, I'm highly experienced, and I am at the top of my game....at 64! I have over 22,000 flight hours excluding my military years. Today all the...
That is so "brand envy".
I too work for a major, as big as Delta. Like the pilot you chastise, I work out 5-6 days a week, pass three physicals (2 FAA as well as my primary physician) a year and frankly with flying colors. I love flying, I'm highly experienced, and I am at the top of my game....at 64! I have over 22,000 flight hours excluding my military years. Today all the majors are hiring pilots with years and years less experience that before. My neighbor's son here in Austin is a Delta captain in his second year. He flew 4 years at a regional and is now captain on an international 767. Not safe! Mostly because he could literally be flying over the pond with two FO's in their first year. Ludicrous. And the regional airline management teams are lobbying to "half" the qualification requirements.
Pass the bill. It's the right thing to do.
Hope you get over your brand envy.
You must be a bitter, just short of marginal pilot who bad mouths everyone doing better than you!
Captain Steve with Delta Air Lines (three words btw),
Three things;
1. 135 jobs are plentiful, Net Jets, Charters etc. Maybe even Part 91 Corporate with no age restrictions for such a "strong" candidate.
2. DPS (former DGS) is always looking for instructors.
3. I'd like to see, in writing preferably, examples of your complaints to lawmakers/FAA officials crying AGE DISCRIMINATION all those years where the folks at the top of list...
Captain Steve with Delta Air Lines (three words btw),
Three things;
1. 135 jobs are plentiful, Net Jets, Charters etc. Maybe even Part 91 Corporate with no age restrictions for such a "strong" candidate.
2. DPS (former DGS) is always looking for instructors.
3. I'd like to see, in writing preferably, examples of your complaints to lawmakers/FAA officials crying AGE DISCRIMINATION all those years where the folks at the top of list were leaving at age 60. Maybe you were too focused on studying the seniority list you were climbing instead?
Me thinks you like the view from the top and the green slips that come with it....
Bet you didn’t say that when you were a first or second officer. I don’t care how much you work out there is zero testing for cognitive decline. The FAA exam is a pencil whipping process for most docs…and absolute joke of an exam. The EKG test is just one example of that.
One point regarding the sentence saying “Working a 15 hour flight at the age of 65+ can’t be easy”…Any flight of that length will have two crews so nobody would work a flight of that length. If, however, the concern is the ability of a pilot to endure that length of flight, then it’s important to mention that the pilots over age 40 get a physical every six months.
I love my job and I love going to work. I am healthy and don't want to be forced to retire. John Glen was a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle STS-95 at age 77. 67 is the new 57. If an airline pilot doesn't want to fly till age 67 he can retire early. The young pilots want to move up the ladder early. However they will get to fly till 67 and they will make more money.
Im totally in favor of it. First of all its age discrimination and if the govt wants me to retire at 65 then give me my Social Security 67 pay. In 2007 the age change stagnated everyone for 5 years. There was little hiring, slow growth, horrible contracts from bankruptcies, and mergers. It was painful the young pilots do not know. Today is different. 2 years wont make any difference to anyones career expectations because...
Im totally in favor of it. First of all its age discrimination and if the govt wants me to retire at 65 then give me my Social Security 67 pay. In 2007 the age change stagnated everyone for 5 years. There was little hiring, slow growth, horrible contracts from bankruptcies, and mergers. It was painful the young pilots do not know. Today is different. 2 years wont make any difference to anyones career expectations because of the shortage, hiring, higher pay, and not everyone will stay. It used to take 12-20 years to upgrade, now its 12-20 months or less. Theres absolutely no difference for those that are healthy to keep flying if they choose. The govt, union, airlines should not have any say in telling someone they have to stop. So if it passes, it will only take 2 years to wash out the re-training and other things. A drop in the bucket for airlines to make adjustments then its done. Only half the pilots at age 65 are widebody because they either dont want it or cant hold it. Not all airlines fly international as well.
Current Airline CA for US major here,
The article does not mention a couple important cons to raising the age.
1. Most pilots this age are flying wide body international flights and age 65 is the max for most international locations. Unless regulators in other regions follow suit, these pilots will have to flow back to narrow body planes to fly for the last two years. That means increased training requirements as they displace...
Current Airline CA for US major here,
The article does not mention a couple important cons to raising the age.
1. Most pilots this age are flying wide body international flights and age 65 is the max for most international locations. Unless regulators in other regions follow suit, these pilots will have to flow back to narrow body planes to fly for the last two years. That means increased training requirements as they displace junior pilots just 2 years before leaving.
2. Most pilots that are on disability and unable to fly are older. These pilots are still paid by the airline but at a reduced rate. They only come off disability payments when they hit the mandatory retirement age. I'm sure they would all LOVE to get an additional 2 years of pay, but they will not help reduce the pilot shortage by doing so. This is the main reason airlines aren't calling for this nearly as much as lowering the hours requirement to 750.
I'm all for allowing people to safely fulfill their potential but, It's more complicated than just saying "let 'em stay". Raising the age WILL cause knock-on affects, and would probably make things worse in the short term (which is what this problem is, short-term).
Where does it say that the pilots that can’t fly internationally have to flow back to lower paying domestic positions? If they don’t want to, they have the choice to retire, not forced into retirement.
Whoever came up with this training argument, has not thought this through. Yes, ICAO does not allow PIC (pilot in command) pilots above the age of 65. This was true back in 2007 for age 60 pilots. That will change, and until it does, since most international routes consist of augmented crews (more than two) this can be managed by designating the less senior captain (under 65) as PIC. As far as training… how does...
Whoever came up with this training argument, has not thought this through. Yes, ICAO does not allow PIC (pilot in command) pilots above the age of 65. This was true back in 2007 for age 60 pilots. That will change, and until it does, since most international routes consist of augmented crews (more than two) this can be managed by designating the less senior captain (under 65) as PIC. As far as training… how does a retirement impact training at the airline level? Someone has to be trained to replace the retiring Captain’s seat and trained to replace the loss of the pilot. Then as seniority starts to change, training on different aircraft are also inevitable.
There is not any reason a pilot who wants to fly past age 65 and can pass all health requirements should be forced into leaving.
No other industry requires this,
If a pilot wants to retire they can.
It’s ridiculous to allow the experience to leave and then have to train new pilots.
That costs money too.
Increase the age, let’s try to do EVERYTHING to prevent cancellations.
Remember: THE HOLIDAY SEASON is coming!!!
This seems like a good plan to have experienced pilots at the lead those a-posed site heart conditions and diabetes as risk factors they always have first officers beside them. I also say if they site these risk factors we should site dementia and Alzheimer’s as risk factors for our politicians who don’t have anyone in the right seat voting for them. We now have our airlines pushing any pilots in to hire just to...
This seems like a good plan to have experienced pilots at the lead those a-posed site heart conditions and diabetes as risk factors they always have first officers beside them. I also say if they site these risk factors we should site dementia and Alzheimer’s as risk factors for our politicians who don’t have anyone in the right seat voting for them. We now have our airlines pushing any pilots in to hire just to fill a seat whether they are good or not so don’t you want a qualified 66 year old pilot in the other seat?_
I envy my friends who're Doctors, Lawyer or Architects, Never fear to retire as long as they're fit, so whats wrong with Pilots ???
I'm an airline pilot since I was 20, and now retiring at 65, I feel fitter than many of my colleagues who're under 60, I run faster, play golf and enjoy young women so age is just a number if you take care of yourself, i was president of my pilot association and there was serious opposition against pilots coming back on contract after 60, but despite of all that, I gave the permission, but...
I'm an airline pilot since I was 20, and now retiring at 65, I feel fitter than many of my colleagues who're under 60, I run faster, play golf and enjoy young women so age is just a number if you take care of yourself, i was president of my pilot association and there was serious opposition against pilots coming back on contract after 60, but despite of all that, I gave the permission, but all those who were opposing extension then, are now flying under contract, men are generally greedy and don't think beyond their noses !
I’ve been flying in the industry for close to 40 years. There are definitely pilots who are for this increase. I don’t believe two more years from a cognitive standpoint would make much of a difference. If a pilot passes a first class medical and wants to continue flying then why not. The current regs require a pilot flying over the age of 60 to have another pilot under the age of 60, so two...
I’ve been flying in the industry for close to 40 years. There are definitely pilots who are for this increase. I don’t believe two more years from a cognitive standpoint would make much of a difference. If a pilot passes a first class medical and wants to continue flying then why not. The current regs require a pilot flying over the age of 60 to have another pilot under the age of 60, so two more years doesn’ t pose any threats. If there are any issues it would be evident during the sim rides. This would also allow airlines another two years to get more pilots trained and experienced.
If this is such a great idea, why not 85? Why not 95? Cognitive decline that starts in our 50's is why, it's insidious and while some stay sharper than others no one is immune. I'm still good , because I passed a joke of a medical is not a prescription for safety.
I’m 60 and I fly 900 plus hours a year for my airline. I will fly until they make me stop or I can’t pass the physical, or I just decide to quit. There should not be an arbitrary retirement age. The FAA physical exam should be reasonable and fair, and along with annual check ride performance, should determine your fitness to continue to fly.
I do believe it’s a smart decision, thanks to senator Graham, not only because of the pilot shortage which is obvious, the love of a passion for many in continuing flying because this’s not your regular 8 to 5 job, and also because at 67 you will be able to retire your social security as should be …
Stop this senseless thinking always against a smart way to let things work, 67 is an...
I do believe it’s a smart decision, thanks to senator Graham, not only because of the pilot shortage which is obvious, the love of a passion for many in continuing flying because this’s not your regular 8 to 5 job, and also because at 67 you will be able to retire your social security as should be …
Stop this senseless thinking always against a smart way to let things work, 67 is an age in which pilot are fit to continue flying with their first class medical certificate backing up their ATP license …
The health of many are able to work past 65 as many do in various pilot positions, ie corporate
Since airline pilots are under the RLA, current age for railway engineers is 67.
Social Security Admin seems to increase age for benefits due to longer life spans seems to give evidence to increase age.
Some pilots wishing to leave earlier can, and do, some may want to work longer.
Age discrimination...
The health of many are able to work past 65 as many do in various pilot positions, ie corporate
Since airline pilots are under the RLA, current age for railway engineers is 67.
Social Security Admin seems to increase age for benefits due to longer life spans seems to give evidence to increase age.
Some pilots wishing to leave earlier can, and do, some may want to work longer.
Age discrimination is factor in so many other areas today, if individual is healthy and able to work, then why discriminate here.
Experience matters to this profession
There is no substantial evidence that changing the retirement age to 67 will have any negative Safety consequences.
In fact the FAA Medical Study concluded:Pass S.4607 as soon as possible and preface the
implementation of the 65 to 67 retirement standard on
a Dr. Northrup study of the IDR data. Just flagging this
immediate source for pilots via a two year addition and
no diminution of the...
Experience matters to this profession
There is no substantial evidence that changing the retirement age to 67 will have any negative Safety consequences.
In fact the FAA Medical Study concluded:Pass S.4607 as soon as possible and preface the
implementation of the 65 to 67 retirement standard on
a Dr. Northrup study of the IDR data. Just flagging this
immediate source for pilots via a two year addition and
no diminution of the medical examination protocols
might inspire professors to start the analyses.
9 countries in Europe, Japan and Australia have raised the mandatory retirement age.
ALPA has disingenuously stated that there is no pilot shortage. BTW Captain Joe DePete just turned 65. Unions are attempting to abandon those pilots who pay thousands in Unions dues.
There is a pilot shortage especially those that are qualified to be Airline Pilots.
Try to tell that to the passengers that could not travel because their flights were cancelled. ** Remember Memorial Day weekend, Remember Fourth of July weekend.
SWAPA did and found that a significant percentage of its membership want to see the retirement age extended past 65
Industry generally supports raising the retirement age.
Experienced pilots are being tasked to mentor younger pilots.
In 2007 the legislation passed 390-0 In Congress.
It was proven to be a 334 million dollar benefit to the traveling public.
Both Democrats and Republicans fly and have their flights cancel.
Helping to solve the pilot shortage, which in turn would help to solve airline dysfunction, is a non-partisan issue.
The unions are attempting to influence the Secretary Of Transportation to parrot their false information citing Safety.
Fifteen years of safety data demonstrate that raising the pilot retirement age in 2007 has not had a deleterious effect on airline safety. In fact it can be argued that just the opposite is true.
There are close to 500 aircraft left parked, imagine the jobs created including pilots, flight attendants, ground staff, support staff. Not to mention the additional flying and competition that benefits the flying public.
Check out the collation group www.raisethepilotage.com they get it!
I fully support raising this age to 67
I see it passing by a large bipartisan margin. Nobody wants to be blamed for travel chaos.
This is noteworthy for the age discussion, I remember watching:
Winner of The 2015 Reno Air Race Unlimited Gold Race-
(Hoot Gibson, 69, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., blasted through the clear skies over the Reno-Stead Airport in his North American P51 Mustang, the "Strega," as the crowds cheered with excitement. He reached a top speed of about 489 mph and whizzed by Hinton, who flew the "Voodoo."Sep 21, 2015)
One of my Southwest A.L. cohorts that was FORCED to retire at age 60 !
Shuttle commander as well !
I think anyone should be able to do their jobs as long as they meet thorough physical and mental evaluations. As Ben said, people live longer, but they also people age differently. Some people lose abilities sooner than others.
Look at other professions like Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Teachers
Judges, Politicians ,Bus Drivers, Train Engineers, Truck drivers. All do not have age 65 restriction like Pilots. I believe Pilots should be allowed to work past 65 if they continue to have the required 6 month medical conducted to certify them fit to fly and continue also with the required 6-8 month rigorous simulator testing by FAA examiners.
Airlines don’t use FAA examiners. I won’t comment on how “rigorous” they’ve become. But unless you’re a current airline pilot, maybe you should stay out of the fray.
Well I’m a current airline pilot and fully agree with the age 67 proposal. Why don’t you lighten up.
Should be increased to 70 or 75, not just 67. My wife plays tennis with seniors, some at 75 are fitter than many at 60.
If you think there are some unscrupulous AME’s and you do not notify the FAA, you should be ashamed of yourself. Put your big boy pants on and do what’s right.
It used to be 60. At age 60, most people are in decent condition.
Then in was 65. At age 65, I would say many people are in decent condition.
At age 67, it is pushing it. A medical exam is not foolproof.
By age 70, I'd say that a significant chunk of people are not in decent condition.
Gotta love all the armchair attorneys here, who are assuming that regulation based on age is somehow a violation of federal law....... it isn't.
All of this passionate discussion misses the point of "what do we as a country gain by raising the pilot retirement age?"
The simple answer is that the largest and oldest airlines aren't lacking for pilots; low cost and ultra low cost airlines don't have large numbers of pilots that would be eligible for this extension. The biggest beneficiaries would be the legacies - esp. AA, DL and UA. The biggest losers are regional airlines....
All of this passionate discussion misses the point of "what do we as a country gain by raising the pilot retirement age?"
The simple answer is that the largest and oldest airlines aren't lacking for pilots; low cost and ultra low cost airlines don't have large numbers of pilots that would be eligible for this extension. The biggest beneficiaries would be the legacies - esp. AA, DL and UA. The biggest losers are regional airlines. Legacy carriers aren't going to cut their most profitable routes but cut heavily leisure routes with low fares. The shortage of regional airline pilots could result in some cities losing air service but the more likely scenario is that alot of small cities will have one - not 3 - airlines serving that city. Southwest doesn't "do" alot of small cities anyway and the occasional Allegiant or Spirit flight from a small city to a leisure destination doesn't solve any national crisis.
The simple reality is that the "cost" of not changing the system is leisure capacity or other low margin flights flown by legacy carriers.
Is it really worth changing a system that does work in order to gain a few more deeply discounted seats?
I agree with your assessment.
Well stated.
I've never understood why politicians think themselves competent to make such mandates in the first place. Limits should be based on safety and medical considerations, not on the whims of politicians. By all means give the FAA, safety researchers, pilots, and the industry a say. But politicians? What subject matter expertise do they bring to the discussion?
“But politicians? What subject matter expertise do they bring to the discussion?”
Great point, and the answer is none.
Sort of like allowing politicians a say over women’s healthcare choices.
In fact, politicians are getting their information from the experts, and the experts (FAA, medical experts, airlines, unions, etc) are telling them that age 67 in general is safe. Our politicians generally want to do good for the country and to help solve problems that affect the country. A problem that they can attack right now is an arbitrary rule throwing out pilots at 65 when medical science as applied to individual cases should be...
In fact, politicians are getting their information from the experts, and the experts (FAA, medical experts, airlines, unions, etc) are telling them that age 67 in general is safe. Our politicians generally want to do good for the country and to help solve problems that affect the country. A problem that they can attack right now is an arbitrary rule throwing out pilots at 65 when medical science as applied to individual cases should be the deciding factor where a pilot wants to continue past 65 to 67--which incidentally is a logical age at which a person's physical and mental health deserves a closer look. Rules can be put in place to make sure this happens if the age 67 legislation passes. A second problem is a seeming pilot shortage in comparison to the current demand for air travel. There's no reason why politicians couldn't and shouldn't address these issues simultaneously with some smart legislation. "Thrown out at AGE SIXTY at the peak of my game (and still asking myself, why?)"
Lucky... I'm sorry man but pilots are not split. I would say 80/20 based on current internal data thats unions are pulling from active pilots. This is not something the majority of any pilot group wants. Some over 65 will be perfectly capable, some will get a medical and probably should not be able to get a medical. Raising the retirement age is just airline executives pushing to stagnate the careers of younger pilots to...
Lucky... I'm sorry man but pilots are not split. I would say 80/20 based on current internal data thats unions are pulling from active pilots. This is not something the majority of any pilot group wants. Some over 65 will be perfectly capable, some will get a medical and probably should not be able to get a medical. Raising the retirement age is just airline executives pushing to stagnate the careers of younger pilots to hold off on negotiating new pay rates until the economy collapses (which hopefully will not even happen). It is a shame that the general public and media have no idea what is really going on but this rule is not being changed to give pilots more choice and is NOT TO SOLVE THE PILOT SHORTAGE. This is simply a way to circumnavigate paying people what they are worth. Rather pay a few pilots are very high rates for 2 years then have to pay the guys on the bottom a fair wage. I am not sure I can handle 2 more years of commuting to Short call reserve, so if this passes I will have to go corporate. This policy change would absolutely cut off the bottom of the group and may cause more harm then good to all.
Truly the issue here is whether an age 65 forced retirement for pilots or anyone should be based upon actual safety data or someone’s opinion?
I am an international wide body Captain for a major airline, and I am in favor of Age 67. Where is this "internal data" you speak of? "My" union's leadership came out against Age 67, without ever polling the membership. "My" union is "supposed" to represent me, not ALPA National, who is bending to the desires of the younger crowd, because they have so many regional pilot members. Not every pilot will or should go...
I am an international wide body Captain for a major airline, and I am in favor of Age 67. Where is this "internal data" you speak of? "My" union's leadership came out against Age 67, without ever polling the membership. "My" union is "supposed" to represent me, not ALPA National, who is bending to the desires of the younger crowd, because they have so many regional pilot members. Not every pilot will or should go to 67, but that is why you have medicals and simulator check rides. All I want is a choice to continue the job that I love for another two years. Japan and other countries have already done this, and planes are not dropping out of the sky. For those that say the "rest of the world" won't let us fly in their airspace, I am pretty sure that they will soon agree to 67 if we pass it, just like they did with 65. I was an FO when they changed to 65, and that was 5 years of upgrade delay. If I can do that, you can live with two years. Also, airlines are hiring so rapidly, I don't think any delay would be even that long. This is about age discrimination and young people wanting to kick me to the curb, plain and simple. Also, the current rule is you are no longer qualified on your 65th birthday, so I assume the new rule would require retirement on your 67th birthday. So, we are talking about 65 and 66 year old pilots, no one would fly for the airlines at 67. Pass Age 67 now!
We’ll put. I agree completely
As a pilot ready to retire at 60 when the rule changed I went to 65. It was a good thing. But by the time I was 65 I wouldn't have gone another 2 years. Flying long haul to China when I retired Was becoming too much for me. I couldn't maintain the concentration needed as well as I could at even 60. Everyone is different I realize but O do not think its a...
As a pilot ready to retire at 60 when the rule changed I went to 65. It was a good thing. But by the time I was 65 I wouldn't have gone another 2 years. Flying long haul to China when I retired Was becoming too much for me. I couldn't maintain the concentration needed as well as I could at even 60. Everyone is different I realize but O do not think its a good idea. It's a second stop gap to the pilot shortage and will just put of the problem for another 2 years. There needs to be a better solution than keep increasing retirement age!
Thanks for such an honest assessment. I too got weary flying three times a month to Asia even at age 62. Now my captain friends are doing it with new hires in the right seat! Let’s fix the problem at the root, not keep putting band aids on it. For every one pilot at age65 who is mentally up for the journey, there’s 6 that aren’t, and 4 more that should have retired years ago!
True!
What data or study now shows this is a good idea? Studies as recent as 2017 have shown the age limit should not be raised due to decline in cognitive abilities and health. This is political based on zero data. While a few individuals would be capable, statistically it is a minority.
I'm a major airline pilot turning 64 next month. President Regan changed social security in the 80s to raise full retirement age over the subsequent 45 years from 65 to 67. It was tapered in. If you change the age in one day you will just make the problem come back in two years and stagnate the careers of younger pilots. It should be done over many years as Americans live longer. Change it a...
I'm a major airline pilot turning 64 next month. President Regan changed social security in the 80s to raise full retirement age over the subsequent 45 years from 65 to 67. It was tapered in. If you change the age in one day you will just make the problem come back in two years and stagnate the careers of younger pilots. It should be done over many years as Americans live longer. Change it a month or two every year and it will reduce pilots needed for the next decade.
There should not be a retirement age! It should be based on holding a First class medical!
No two people age at the same rate, If you can pass a First class medical then you should be able to fly as long as you can hold it! First Class Medicals for Captains are required every six months! that would help your pilot shortage!!!
Absolutely 100%
Problem with that, sadly, is there are some unscrupulous AME's that will pencil-whip a physical. Seen it, lived it.
Whoever wrote this article is completely ignorant about everything in the airline industry. Do some research before you write an article. There is already a big percentage of pilots who cannot fly to 65 due to health related issues. Flying to 67 or even 65 depends largely on how the pilot takes care of themselves and what type of flying they are doing. Yes wide body pilots flying 3 trips a month with rest breaks...
Whoever wrote this article is completely ignorant about everything in the airline industry. Do some research before you write an article. There is already a big percentage of pilots who cannot fly to 65 due to health related issues. Flying to 67 or even 65 depends largely on how the pilot takes care of themselves and what type of flying they are doing. Yes wide body pilots flying 3 trips a month with rest breaks are probably fine. Flying a narrow body or for a regional 3-5 flights a day…not so much. Several major unions are against raising the retirement age as someone over 65 can only fly domestically which would cause a huge scheduling nightmare and also affects the careers of all of the pilots at the airlines. Yes there is screening of all pilots but does not effectively screen out all pilots who should retire early.
I fly with pilots approaching 65. Most are asleep at the wheel by then, literally....NO!
YES!! Even asking me if we can take turns napping on red eyes(I say no)!! Stuff that does not show up on medicals.... how tired do you get. Even young guys , we get tired but this gets worse as you age for most. This job is not designed to take you into your late 60s I do not care how healthy we think we are.
The union opposes it because it will cause stagnation for two more year just like it did from 60 to 65. Its about movement and pay increases. I know because it cost 5 more years of from being a 777 Captain had the retirement age been 60.
As a retired (at age 65) B747 Captain for a European Airline I fully support this proposal as I was compelled to resign while medically fit, current and keen to continue with my carrer.
I'm amazed how ALPA can appos to increase pilot retirement age to 67 while witnessing that the most airlines specially mager cargo airlines have to significantly lower their already lower standard on hiring and promoting their very low experiance pilots to be a Captain on their fleet.
Letting a pilot fly to 67 or 68 seems very logical. Especially when you think that lowering the amount of hours of a new pilot by 50%. So much about flying DOES have to do with experience. I am a flight attendant for a major airline, these 60-65 year olds really know what they are doing and have experienced so much. RAISE the age limit to 68...
Time to raise the retirement age to 68. People are living longer and this would be a tremendous help to the airline’s situation.
FAA rules, such as mandatory retirement, even wait times after certain routine procedures for medical, must advance with the growing and advancing available technology of the day. The fact is many of those rules have not advanced with the times, including mandatory retirement.
I agree with increasing retirement age for pilots to the age they wish and are fit to fly. When 80 year olds can be presidents, why can’t pilots be 67, 70 or 80? As long as they are fit and willing, let them fly.
The other idea is to add pilots to the list of desired professionals so they can obtain work permits from Canada.
ALPA should respect the wishes of its due paying members instead of mandating what opinions they should have!
The age Limit is discrimination, plus with the economy bad shape , it definitely would help
Increased age to 67 should of already occurred. These age requirements are random and 69 may be the more accurate age for retirement. Medicals and recurrent check rides test the pilot on a regular schedule to see if the pilot is fit for duty. Bring back all pilots that are under the age of 69 and those that took early retirement and the pilot shortage would have the short term fix and allow the airlines...
Increased age to 67 should of already occurred. These age requirements are random and 69 may be the more accurate age for retirement. Medicals and recurrent check rides test the pilot on a regular schedule to see if the pilot is fit for duty. Bring back all pilots that are under the age of 69 and those that took early retirement and the pilot shortage would have the short term fix and allow the airlines to hire for future growth. Thank you, 37 year retired, 65yr old commercial airline pilot.
Hi All, I’m nearing 64 years old and have been flying as captain on the B-747, jumbo jet for almost 24 years. I’ve got 35,000 hours total flight time. I’m in very good overall health and I’m not overweight. I am truly at the absolute top of my game now as related to flying skill; teaching skill (to the young folks), and ability to fly as efficiently as my company (Atlas Air) could hope for....
Hi All, I’m nearing 64 years old and have been flying as captain on the B-747, jumbo jet for almost 24 years. I’ve got 35,000 hours total flight time. I’m in very good overall health and I’m not overweight. I am truly at the absolute top of my game now as related to flying skill; teaching skill (to the young folks), and ability to fly as efficiently as my company (Atlas Air) could hope for. The pay scale at Atlas tops out at 12 years so the argument that the older pilots earn more is not necessarily valid. Believe me, I mentor young pilots and help them enhance their competency. I also, have a high level of the concept of safe and safety. Their is no exception to experience enhancing safety. I cannot emphasize strongly enough that nothing replaces experience in the cockpit. Young pilots are not at fault, they just need to walk before they run. The flying public deserves a safe flying experience. They don’t get it with low-time pilots. I would personally love to fly for a few extra years. And as a passenger, I only pray that the folks flying me around truly know what they are doing. Raise the age; confirm fitness to fly- no different than now, during my 6 month simulator checks and my once a year “Annual line check.”
Absolutely well said! Nailed it!
Make it happen today.
At Delta Air Lines, our Pilots are flying between 7-18 extra days per month. Tell me there’s no shortage of qualified pilots. As long as they will fly the extra time, and work extra time the management can continue to say “ look at happy the pilots are with their current contract”. Keep up the hard work fellas.
No contract any time soon!
Older pilots do not cost more because pilot pay scales cap out at 12 years of service. The only advantage senior pilots have is that they can fly larger aircraft which pay more. Junior pilots want senior guys to retire so they can make more money sooner.
Amen, that’s the only reason the pigeons at the MEC/LEC’s don’t want it. Anyway why should they care, they don’t do any flying for the company.
Absolutely yes! Health standards for pilots shouldn’t be based solely on age. There are many 65 year old pilots who are in much better health than their younger counterparts. I see a great deal of obese 40yr old pilots who present a greater hazard to the traveling public. Let’s set the physical bar high and motivate all pilots to take better care of themselves. Raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 is more than reasonable if a pilot is healthy and fit.
So why is FAA not raising the controllers mandatory age 56 retirement?
If we’re talking safety here how is that making any sense?
Google the term
Review of the Scientific Basis for the Mandatory Separation of an Air Traffic Controller at Age 56.
It's the only "data" I could find on why 56 is the mandatory age, and it was written in 1971. Honestly I'm glad I left the day I turned 50. To make "big money" as a controller you have to work the busiest and most difficult facilities. I had done that since I was...
Google the term
Review of the Scientific Basis for the Mandatory Separation of an Air Traffic Controller at Age 56.
It's the only "data" I could find on why 56 is the mandatory age, and it was written in 1971. Honestly I'm glad I left the day I turned 50. To make "big money" as a controller you have to work the busiest and most difficult facilities. I had done that since I was 22, and our staffing shortages were causing me to work mandatory overtime every week. 800+ hours in 2014. Mandatory 6 day weeks, 10 hours a day at the busiest airport in the world. You don't get that as a pilot. They can't force you to work more than you've bid.
I've seen too many of my friends a) drop dead months before getting to 56 and b) get the FAA to waive the 56 rule (which is on a year to year review/request) and die halfway through their age 56 year.
Age discrimination. A violation of federal law. Gee, members of Congress/SCOTUS can go until 80-95 yrs of age. Japan airlines flying pilots over 65 in U.S. airspace. FAA Class l medical exam is no piece of cake. Significant pilot shortage- Yup. So…….get rid of the senior pilots with 12-24,000 hours flying time? Genius idea. Transpose the words “mandatory retirement due to your age” with “mandatory retirement due to (being female, being black, being the wrong...
Age discrimination. A violation of federal law. Gee, members of Congress/SCOTUS can go until 80-95 yrs of age. Japan airlines flying pilots over 65 in U.S. airspace. FAA Class l medical exam is no piece of cake. Significant pilot shortage- Yup. So…….get rid of the senior pilots with 12-24,000 hours flying time? Genius idea. Transpose the words “mandatory retirement due to your age” with “mandatory retirement due to (being female, being black, being the wrong religion, being gay, being of the wrong political beliefs, being too short/fat, etc etc…). Most of us will self retire anyway if we lose our “edge .” Besides, we have a copilot (FO) sitting next to us. The FAA could simply increase the intensity of the exam. Research how and why the “mandatory retirement of age 60” became LAW. hint: politics, money, power and GREEDY American Airlines. Just saying. Check six! We’re victims- let’s riot!
Spot on Eric. We’re you at Laughlin in tweets?
"Age discrimination. A violation of federal law."
....exactly what provision of "federal law" are you proposing is being violated here. Cite it. This should be interesting.
Safety first! What is safer? A fit experienced pilot that is over 65 or a junior pilot with 750 hours? Many thought raising the age to 65 from 60 would cause problems, but it really has not. This would also help bridge the gap to Social Security for retiring pilots. The advancement delay for junior pilots is only temporary. They too will have the option to fly longer, making up for the initial delay in...
Safety first! What is safer? A fit experienced pilot that is over 65 or a junior pilot with 750 hours? Many thought raising the age to 65 from 60 would cause problems, but it really has not. This would also help bridge the gap to Social Security for retiring pilots. The advancement delay for junior pilots is only temporary. They too will have the option to fly longer, making up for the initial delay in their advancement. It is also unfair and inaccurate to group all pilots over 60 to be a mess as one writer suggest. He should submit a picture for us to judge.
It’s not indentured servitude. If you want to retire at 61, 62, 65….do it. No one is holding your feet too the fire. Don’t try and tell others what they can and can’t do…,
Absolutely not safe or sensible! Nearly every fellow pilot I sit next to who is over 62, 63 or 64 look awful. Pilots are inherently exposed to high levels of radiation, have the highest rate of melanoma of any profession and have a terrible life expectancy age. As a passenger the chance of living thru a ‘preventable’ emergency landing/divert due to a pilot dying will skyrocket. Aviation is a business of safety first and always....
Absolutely not safe or sensible! Nearly every fellow pilot I sit next to who is over 62, 63 or 64 look awful. Pilots are inherently exposed to high levels of radiation, have the highest rate of melanoma of any profession and have a terrible life expectancy age. As a passenger the chance of living thru a ‘preventable’ emergency landing/divert due to a pilot dying will skyrocket. Aviation is a business of safety first and always. It is incomprehensible anyone would knowing allow the risk of an extremely dangerous situation to exponentially increase.
I’m 64, can likely beat you at tennis, am not overweight or “looking awful”. I still fly 777’s safely without mistakes as well as my oh-so good looking fo’s. Who often make mistakes that I prevent. What is incomprehensible is having very young, junior pilots flying around TOGETHER. You have absolutely no idea of what you’re advocating or talking about. Telling me I can’t do this job as safely the day I turn 65 as...
I’m 64, can likely beat you at tennis, am not overweight or “looking awful”. I still fly 777’s safely without mistakes as well as my oh-so good looking fo’s. Who often make mistakes that I prevent. What is incomprehensible is having very young, junior pilots flying around TOGETHER. You have absolutely no idea of what you’re advocating or talking about. Telling me I can’t do this job as safely the day I turn 65 as the day prior? We get tested so much more than any other profession, yet can’t keep working. How’s about let’s at least start testing older politicians for THEIR mental/physical acuity…starting with….
The same generation of pilots that benefited from age 60, and age 65…. Most were hired in their 20’s and now think the junior guys are unsafe to crew a flight. I seem to recall that 30 year old captains on a A300, and young FO’s. … how responsible of you.
Agreed Bob is a silly fool
Yes...Bob is a clown...he has no clue...I've got 25000 plus both Airlines and F16s...and can tell a lot about a copilot with in 45 sec of flying with them....if I saw Bob at the controls...my family would not fly with a clown...PERIOD
U are a joke Bob
Bob, I assume you are the one sitting in the right seat and looking left to those old folks. You will be them one day. You may look just about the same and wonder why your looks are slipping while your brain is still ripping. Your comment about terrible life expectancy is without merit. No one, including the FAA, ALPA, Airlines, APA, or ICAO have ever dare collect data on pilot life expectancy. Not a...
Bob, I assume you are the one sitting in the right seat and looking left to those old folks. You will be them one day. You may look just about the same and wonder why your looks are slipping while your brain is still ripping. Your comment about terrible life expectancy is without merit. No one, including the FAA, ALPA, Airlines, APA, or ICAO have ever dare collect data on pilot life expectancy. Not a single study. As far as melanoma, I have no rebuttal other than to ask a similar question, which study are you referring to. This decision to increase or not increase the arbitrary mandatory retirement age for pilots will be done only if safety is number one on the decision tree. Just as is the case at all airlines, that safety is first, unless it costs money! That's why sage experience is so critical. Homework dude, homework.
But you think that cutting the required hours for a pilot is safer than a seasoned pilot. Think
I'm sure u would chg ur tune if u were 64.. call a spade a spade...u don't want any impediment to ur career...I'd have alot more respect if you'd just tell the truth....
I'm retiring in about a year...hopefully 3 years so u can pull gear for me!
You are absolutely generalizing. You, if you
are a troll stirring up a pot here having no evidence of what’s unsafe or NOT. Go away you fictional person you!
You’re a self serving FO who got hired at an advanced age and can’t hold Captain. Face it! But your tune will change when you are 64. Good gawwwd…
You’re absolutely ignorant. Let me guess …. You’re a newly minted regional pilot with 1,485 hours in a C-172. I’ll take you on in any physical endeavor junior, may the the more “fit to fly” aviator win. You might also consider stopping by your local middle school and sitting thru a few grammar and spelling classes before you post.
I am a carreer Airline pilot and former Instructor Pilot for the USAF. I have over 15,000 flying hours in both supersonic and subsonic aircraft.
I cried the day the age was increased beyond 60 years to qualify for full retirement benefits. NO good that and increased retirement age can do will ever outweigh the risks of older pilots flying longer into their sunset years. At age 56 now and being with my airline...
I am a carreer Airline pilot and former Instructor Pilot for the USAF. I have over 15,000 flying hours in both supersonic and subsonic aircraft.
I cried the day the age was increased beyond 60 years to qualify for full retirement benefits. NO good that and increased retirement age can do will ever outweigh the risks of older pilots flying longer into their sunset years. At age 56 now and being with my airline over 22 years, I can tell you without reservation that once the age was raised to 65, I began, for the first time, flying with Captains who we say, "have their best flying years behind them". It is a strain on the EXPERIENCED First Officers when they are paired with a Capt who should be enjoying his retirement and his family instead of reporting for a job 5x a month where he is clearly overscheduled and overwhelmed - NOT by "Ops normal", but by challenges due to longer hours, less support personnel, schedule changes and reroutes that are "brutal but legal"....now imagine a First-Year Probationary pilot being the "better pilot of the two" in this same dynamic situation??
In aviation, the understanding is "things always look normal ... right up til they look life threatening".
It was interesting to see that play out SO MANY times in the USAF.
I cringe at how often I am flying now with 1st year pilots at my company in an International Widebody jets - knowing I have to be the experience for both of us....AND I know that soon it will be true for me too: that my best flying days are behind me! God help us if a scenario is encountered that requires me at my best and a Fisrt Officer with years of experience.... and that day we have neither.
If you cried the day they raised the mandatory retirement age to 65 then I don’t want you in my cockpit if things go south.. maybe you should check your emotional stability. Perhaps it’s you that might not be fit.
What’s the difference between 750 Cessna 172 hours and 1500 Cessna 172 hours when it comes to taking a first officer position with a regional airline. I had 250 hours at age 19 when I became a Learjet copilot for Hop-A-Jet in 1978. I flew my FAA 135 check in a Lear 25D, not in a simulator. It was a full checkride. Approach to stalls, steep turns at 60” not 45” as in 121, all...
What’s the difference between 750 Cessna 172 hours and 1500 Cessna 172 hours when it comes to taking a first officer position with a regional airline. I had 250 hours at age 19 when I became a Learjet copilot for Hop-A-Jet in 1978. I flew my FAA 135 check in a Lear 25D, not in a simulator. It was a full checkride. Approach to stalls, steep turns at 60” not 45” as in 121, all non precision approaches and an ILS hand flown both engines and SE. full stop and touch and goes. The sooner AND YOUNGER you get in the jet THE BETTER proficient and confident pilot you will be. Old guys entering the profession almost NEVER become upgrade material. Thats a fact based on 40 years of major airline flying folks. 1500 hours, 750 makes no difference, in fact the longer one flies slow and low the harder the transition to fly high and fast. The 1500 hour rule was made through emotional hysteria and was a political show boat. This is my opinion based on solo and private pilot age 17, Learjet copilot age 19, FE age 21, ATP age 23 B-737, type ratings with experience PIC in B-737, 747, 757, 767, DC-9, A-320, A-330
Facts have shown we are healthy people. The health has increased substantially since the original mandatory 60 year retirement. People are living healthier longer lives. As pilots we not only have 2 medicals a year but also at least annual recurrent training and line checks.
There are checks in place. Clearly if you still want to retire at 65 or even younger you can. why not let those who are physically and mentally who...
Facts have shown we are healthy people. The health has increased substantially since the original mandatory 60 year retirement. People are living healthier longer lives. As pilots we not only have 2 medicals a year but also at least annual recurrent training and line checks.
There are checks in place. Clearly if you still want to retire at 65 or even younger you can. why not let those who are physically and mentally who love there flying jobs work as long as they can.
Let the the facts that people are healthier and living longer increase the age to 67/68
Yes to increasing the age.
Ben, you left out the biggest problem…the airlines. Changing the retirement age gives the airline(s) ammo on retirement benefits. When I became a pilot, the retirement age was 60. This meant no matter what, I was going to be done with my main career and would be enjoying the fruits of my decades of labor. In the airline industry pilots are seen as a inconvenient, but yet necessary evil they must pay for. This is...
Ben, you left out the biggest problem…the airlines. Changing the retirement age gives the airline(s) ammo on retirement benefits. When I became a pilot, the retirement age was 60. This meant no matter what, I was going to be done with my main career and would be enjoying the fruits of my decades of labor. In the airline industry pilots are seen as a inconvenient, but yet necessary evil they must pay for. This is why they are salivating at pilotless flight deck. We already have a medical that can kick us to the curb every 6 months and flight evaluations every 9-18 months that will do the same. Airlines will use this rule to further negotiate our benefits so that we never retire, but rather die at the yoke. My father in law, a doctor with his own practice, died at 69. I would like to have more than two years of “retirement” without feeling the need to work because a rule changed that gave them the ammo to degrade my benefits necessitating my continued service. There is not a pilot shortage. Only a shortage of people willing to work the most scrutinized job that can kick you to the curb for medical, performance, or economic turn at the drop of a hat.
Which is safer... lowering the minimum number of hours from 1,500 to 750 or extending the retirement age by two years? What do statistics show about age and experience levels in aviation accidents?
Since raising the retirement age of an ATP to 65 from 60 there have been zero fatal accidents attributed to an airliner crashing because a 60+ year old pilot was incapacitated because of an age related medical issue. Whereas planes crash every year because an inexperienced pilot did something dumb. It's a very political issue but not a safety issue.
Raising the retirement age for ATPL holders makes complete and absolute sense. Pilots can retire any time they want, many are sharp and happy to work to 67 and beyond.
We need to remind ourselves of the reason why airline employment eligibility was raised to 1500 hours.... Colgan Air flight 3407 and similar accidents. Do we truly need even just one more needless death at the hands of underqualified and/or fatigued flight crews?
So .......
Raising the retirement age for ATPL holders makes complete and absolute sense. Pilots can retire any time they want, many are sharp and happy to work to 67 and beyond.
We need to remind ourselves of the reason why airline employment eligibility was raised to 1500 hours.... Colgan Air flight 3407 and similar accidents. Do we truly need even just one more needless death at the hands of underqualified and/or fatigued flight crews?
So .... A reduction to half the current standard is not only dangerous but a backwards direction in terms of flight safety.
The 1500 hour rule came as knee jerk reaction to Colgan 3407 crash which was a tragic loss. But the grieving families more or less forced this legislation. It was not based in Data, rather just the logic that if pilots have more time before they join the airlines they will be better suited for the job.
The main issues with that crash had more to do with airline training programs, fatigue, and a...
The 1500 hour rule came as knee jerk reaction to Colgan 3407 crash which was a tragic loss. But the grieving families more or less forced this legislation. It was not based in Data, rather just the logic that if pilots have more time before they join the airlines they will be better suited for the job.
The main issues with that crash had more to do with airline training programs, fatigue, and a lack of discipline, all issues that are not solved by increasing pilot requirements to 1500 hours do not solve.
As someone who had to comply with this rule in the early 2010s to get my first airline job I can attest that I was no more prepared at 1500 hours than I was at 500. A-lot pilots end up spending that time building portion of their careers as a flight instructor. Instructors have very little time at the controls of aircraft because that time is prioritized for their student to learn how to fly.
So myself as well as many other pilots see a large atrophy in our skills over the year or two it takes to build up to the 1500 hours.
There are other ”time building” jobs that could better prepare pilots for the airlines. (ie. cargo charter) But the 1500 hour rule doesn’t stipulate what kind or quality of hours you get, only that you get 1500 hours.
There are much much better ways to safely decrease the amount of hours need to be ready for role of airline pilot. These training programs are already being used in Europe and Asia to decrease the time needed to qualify as and airline pilot. Many are able to achieve the airline pilot role at 250 hours and are arguably better prepared for that job because every one of those 250 hours were tailored to prepare them to work in a crew environment as an airline pilot, opposed to burning holes in the sky talking to a student for 1500 hours like we do here.
Really should be the blueprint for what we should do in then US
Unlike 2007 when ICAO had already changed the international retirement age to 65, this time if they changed the age in the U.S. to 67/68, U.S. airlines would need to remove pilots 65 and over from international flights. The airlines have been promoting a false narrative on the “pilot shortage.”
In the U.S. we currently produce more ATP qualified pilots than the industry hires. The problem is many low paying fee-for-departure airlines, like Mesa...
Unlike 2007 when ICAO had already changed the international retirement age to 65, this time if they changed the age in the U.S. to 67/68, U.S. airlines would need to remove pilots 65 and over from international flights. The airlines have been promoting a false narrative on the “pilot shortage.”
In the U.S. we currently produce more ATP qualified pilots than the industry hires. The problem is many low paying fee-for-departure airlines, like Mesa and Republic, are struggling to hire when airlines like Spirit and Sun Country are also hiring entry level pilots to fly A320s and B737 for much higher pay.
Why should the government mandate any retirement age at all. As long as a pilot continues to meet the minimum physical and airmanship standards, why shouldn't they be allowed to work until 90 if they are still able to do so.
In the past, the mandated retirement age was 60. That was extended for the sole purpose of allowing pilots who were close to age 60 to work for 5 more years to bank some...
Why should the government mandate any retirement age at all. As long as a pilot continues to meet the minimum physical and airmanship standards, why shouldn't they be allowed to work until 90 if they are still able to do so.
In the past, the mandated retirement age was 60. That was extended for the sole purpose of allowing pilots who were close to age 60 to work for 5 more years to bank some money for retirement, since the bankruptcy courts allowed bankrupt airlines to steal money from pilot pensions to satisfy other creditors. It was a shameful period and the airlines have never given that OWED money back to pilots.
The reason that some of us don't want 67 as a new retirement age is that our working conditions are purely governed by seniority. And some of us don't want to work until we're in the grave, we want to get out at 60 or 62 perhaps. But if we allow the most senior pilots to keep working until 67, that will inhibit our career progression and ability to move into higher paying jobs. I don't like the way its set up, but it's reality and we pilots are required to work within those constraints.
Raising the mandatory age will only stifle the careers of less junior pilots and less our ability to make money.
NO TO 67!
40% of commercial pilots that retire at 65 die within 5 years. Are we trying to cut it to less than a year or my just long enough to clear employee parking. It's 65, get out of the seat and go finally be a part of your family and go buy cloths from somewhere besides the Salvation Army you greedy bastards. The 65 stagnation cost the entire industry
Do you have a source for that stat? Find it shocking that nearly half of pilots die a full decade before life expectancy AFTER retiring from the job
I agree 67 if he can continue ✈️
What a joke.. 2 years ago everyone is being forced to retire , today the retirement age should be extended. Bottleneck the most junior into 2 years more of reserve while possibly further delaying contract negotiations. This buys the airlines time , it doesn’t resolve anything at all. Unions should be voicing against this. SOLVE the problem THEN talk about whether increasing the retirement age is the right thing to do.
Absolutely the mandatory retirement age should be changed to at least 67, if not 70.
Hope this passes quickly! Common sense!
You clearly want to work till the bitter end. Unlikely most pilots will make it to either of those ages. I would prefer to have at least a little life left when I retire.
Let’s be honest! The FAA physical is a JOKE! First, before extending the mandatory retirement age, the FAA needs to make the physical more stringent and there needs to be better oversight of the AMEs doing the physical exams. There are AMEs out there who pencil whip physicals for airmen who seek those types of AMEs. They are well known.
These are the standards of vision - distant vision correctable to 20/20 and near...
Let’s be honest! The FAA physical is a JOKE! First, before extending the mandatory retirement age, the FAA needs to make the physical more stringent and there needs to be better oversight of the AMEs doing the physical exams. There are AMEs out there who pencil whip physicals for airmen who seek those types of AMEs. They are well known.
These are the standards of vision - distant vision correctable to 20/20 and near vision correctable to 20/40, normal color vision, normal fields of vision, etc. Hearing standards - hear a conversational voice at a distance of 6 feet, with your back turned. Mental standards - no personality disorder, no psychosis, no bipolar, no substance dependency. Neurological standards - no epilepsy, no loss of conscientiousness or transient loss of nervous system function without satisfactory medical explanation of cause. And the ridiculous list goes on.
All of these items can be overcome with a special issuance medical certificate. A waiver. This isn’t a serious medical. Even getting an EKG once a year doesn’t guarantee anything about the future of the applicant. All it does is show if there was a previous heart condition.
You want to raise the age, then raise the medical standards that we airmen are to be subjected to. And I say this as an old guy who is nearing the end of my career. A wide body captain at a major airline.
Nailed it!! The medical is such a joke and it’s the same medical from 40-65. So much more thought needs to go into this. Lindsey Graham is a compete moron and the public is highly uneducated to these matters.
The choice is a 66 year old experienced pilot or hiring a very unqualified pilot with little flight time.
Amen Brother!
Commercial airline pilots have to pass a physical/health exam every six months conducted by an FAA designated Physician. Also, when a pilot reaches the age of 40 they are given an EKG every year. These FAA medical exams also include, but are not limited to, several types of visions tests, hearing tests, balance and coordination tests. All previous Doctor visits and medications are also reviewed.
Pilots also go through simulator testing every year which...
Commercial airline pilots have to pass a physical/health exam every six months conducted by an FAA designated Physician. Also, when a pilot reaches the age of 40 they are given an EKG every year. These FAA medical exams also include, but are not limited to, several types of visions tests, hearing tests, balance and coordination tests. All previous Doctor visits and medications are also reviewed.
Pilots also go through simulator testing every year which not only test flying and safety compliance skills but if there is any cognitive behavioral, communication or reaction issues during these sim sessions, it will definitely be a red flag to the examiners and very likely the pilot would not pass the event satisfactorily. So why not let them fly if they are fit? Passengers and airline managers should be vary appreciative of the years of experience.
The continuing training requirements that are required of Airline Pilots as well as the medical licensing every 6 months will reduce any negative effects of raising the retirement age in my judgement. That being said, lowering experience standards can only result in an increased accident rate. As it stands now, candidates do not need the 1500 hrs. to get an ATP or to get hired by the airlines. If you are part of an approved...
The continuing training requirements that are required of Airline Pilots as well as the medical licensing every 6 months will reduce any negative effects of raising the retirement age in my judgement. That being said, lowering experience standards can only result in an increased accident rate. As it stands now, candidates do not need the 1500 hrs. to get an ATP or to get hired by the airlines. If you are part of an approved part 141 approved flight school, you can do this in 1250 hrs. and being an instructor in just such a school, several of my students have already been hired at a regional airline with 1100 hrs. and were told that the airline would get them the other 150 hrs. needed. These pilots have NO EXPERIENCE outside the training environment and you want to put them behind the wheel of an airliner full of passengers. My 35 years flying for the airlines before which I flew corporate and jet charter along with teaching in a FAR part 141 college flight program tell me that the lowering of standards for new hire pilots can only lead to disaster. Another aspect I have not seen mentioned is the fact that using such low time and low experience pilots will increase the workload to a huge degree on the Captain of that flight.
We are in the safest period in aviation history. Don’t touch the 1500 hour rule and don’t touch the retirement age. Nothing is broken except the regional airlines themselves.
If the age went to 67, the senior pilots that typically fly the wide body international wouldn’t be allowed to fly to Europe where the retirement age is 65.
I retired when the mandatory age was 60 and can attest to the fact that multiple time changes are exhausting and it takes a few days off to get back to normal only to go do it again.
The issue will be flying abroad since ICAO & FAA. & EASA are not willing to rise the retirement age.
There are a number of issues to address on this topic. Since a pilot can choose to retire early, it will not affect that group. May want to continue flying, and since pilots are subject to such intense scrutiny regarding their health, I see no harm n increasing the retirement age. If there is a mental competency concern, it can be addressed with annual/semi-annual testing for cognitive ability. Since social security at 65 is less...
There are a number of issues to address on this topic. Since a pilot can choose to retire early, it will not affect that group. May want to continue flying, and since pilots are subject to such intense scrutiny regarding their health, I see no harm n increasing the retirement age. If there is a mental competency concern, it can be addressed with annual/semi-annual testing for cognitive ability. Since social security at 65 is less then at 67, pilots are being cheated if they want to fly longer, but are not permitted to do so, yet want to increase their SSA benefit by waiting an extra 2 years. If the POTUS, SCOTUS, and most other professionals, whose cognitive and physical health can affect their ability to perform their jobs competently are permitted to work well past the age of 65, then why not pilots? As to reducing the # of flight hours per year - that’s garbage. That will reduce pay for career long pilots, many of whom have been cheated out of pensions, been furloughed over the years and taken reduction in pay for a variety of reasons. That would be an excuse to pay less experienced - i.e. JUNIOR pilots, to fly more hours, which would only benefit airline management in their efforts to increase the bottom line for the company, while cheating employees.
If pilots chose to work longer by allowing them work to older age fine. But don't force everyone to work longer,but this is big money lobbyist pulling the strings of their paid for representatives
Nothing sensible about this,they want people to work longer and harder for less chance of retirement
Every pilot union is lobbying heavily against this.
As an ALPA member of a legacy airline I have not seen signs of the union lobbying against it. They have let us know about the likelihood of the legislation being advanced.
As a 34 year pilot at one of the biggies, our Union is not saying anything.
I am for it I am hopeful this happens as I want to continue flying, retire and seat at home.
I have already written to all my congress and senate representatives asking to please back this bill up !! I sure hope they do
Or maybe just have less flights? Then prices go up and airline stockholders make tons 'O dough and debts get paid off?
And airlines can claim they are reducing their carbon footprint and still making money?
People who can't afford to fly stay home and revitalize their ocal communities with local spending?
Sounds like a winner!
Or just throw more kindling on the fire as the planet burns.
Your choice.....
I had to retire 2 years ago. I wrote congress men and senators about raising retirement ago to no avail. I wasn't ready to retire and this shortage had been predicted long ago. Nothing happens in government till it's crisis mode. If they did their job instead of pad their accounts this shortage would have been minimized.
No one should be Force into retirement specially if they are fit, have the experience and further more, they love doing it!
I had a conversation with lawyer for the FAA when the FAA was fighting strongly against raising the age from 60 to 65 back in the late 1990s. I asked the lawyer what the FAA legal department was fighting this so hard (and winning, by the way), and he said "because they could." In other words, FAA lawyers didn't care so much about any scientific basis for determining fitness to fly, but just winning. Sad...
I had a conversation with lawyer for the FAA when the FAA was fighting strongly against raising the age from 60 to 65 back in the late 1990s. I asked the lawyer what the FAA legal department was fighting this so hard (and winning, by the way), and he said "because they could." In other words, FAA lawyers didn't care so much about any scientific basis for determining fitness to fly, but just winning. Sad commentary on the legal profession--and I'm a lawyer (and pilot) who had to quit airline flying at 60, at the peak of my skills.
Flew corporate until age 68 with no health problems same air space as airlines should be a no brainer to extend the retirement age
most accidents are caused by pilots with thousands of hours. A pilot with 750 hours will not be a pilot in command. I am ok with that because they will be trained and have a senior pilot as a mentor
The funny thing is, when they were offering early outs at my airline, criteria you had to be at least 63, they found more takers than they thought. We are paying for that now.
Half of our government (which “rules the free world”) can be over 65 without any recertification/training or checks on their health. Let the pilots fly as long as they are willing/fit for duty. If not? Then put age and term limits on all government positions. It’s only fair
Vast majority of us airline pilots are vehemently opposed to this. Get your facts straight
And why are they opposed..?
Your are so wrong, Jason Your are the one that need to get your facts straight. Your are probably some microsoft flight simulator "pilot" or fly your C-152 in some dirt airstrip. Show me your data. We are not opposed and I do fly for a major legacy US airline.
Yeah you are right...but if u took a poll of Capts who were 63 and above...it would be 100% for. If u took a poll of pilots less than 55...it would be 100% against.
Call a spade a spade and don't say it cognitive ability...total BS...I'm a Caot for a legacy airline...and I'm 64...and I'll fly the pants off any 40 year old...not bragging...but I've got 25000 hrs plus...I think I know what makes...
Yeah you are right...but if u took a poll of Capts who were 63 and above...it would be 100% for. If u took a poll of pilots less than 55...it would be 100% against.
Call a spade a spade and don't say it cognitive ability...total BS...I'm a Caot for a legacy airline...and I'm 64...and I'll fly the pants off any 40 year old...not bragging...but I've got 25000 hrs plus...I think I know what makes a good pilot...Young guys are very opposed bc they will be stagnated for 2 years.. that my friends is the bottom line why junior pilots oppose it...I just wish they'd have the balls to admit it
Given the fact it was built on political BS in the 1950s as a way for one greedy pilot at American Airlines to land a cushy management job and had zero to do with health issues it's beyond archaic to say the least.
65 is indeed long enough - many pilots are not interested in flying any longer and airline careers were stalled when the retirement age was raised from 60 to 65.
The answer to solving the pilot shortage issue is a competency based process at the beginning of one's career - not hours.
Adding more length of time to pilot careers should only be explored AFTER the process of adding NEW pilots is cleaned up
You can retire any day you choose . If the powers that be that impose a mandatory retirement date would also provide a mandatory retirement plan I would retire today. Why pilots allow a bunch lawyers dictate their career is baffling to me.
This is just not true. Many retirement benefits at a lot of airlines union contracts are predicated on staying until mandatory retirement. You choose to retire early, you lose benefits.
Too bad the senate doesn't apply this same rule to themselves. If they did, 37 Senators would have to retire today. 43 would retire by the end of the year.
And especially sleepy joe would not be in charge of the mess.
The ONLY pushback to this bill is going to be from junior pilots who demand instant gratification. There is anecdotal evidence (heresay, granted I have no immediate proof) that upgrades to the captain's seat are happening at both Fedex and Delta in less than 1.5 years. Upgrades in the least desirable aircraft in the least desirable city. But the upgrades are available nonetheless.
This is the least amount of time for upgrade, in the...
The ONLY pushback to this bill is going to be from junior pilots who demand instant gratification. There is anecdotal evidence (heresay, granted I have no immediate proof) that upgrades to the captain's seat are happening at both Fedex and Delta in less than 1.5 years. Upgrades in the least desirable aircraft in the least desirable city. But the upgrades are available nonetheless.
This is the least amount of time for upgrade, in the HISTORY of modern commercial jet aviation. A two year wait is not going to hurt anyones overall career progression.
In my case I waited 23.5 years to upgrade due to the backruptcies and terrorism in the early 2000's.
Personally I am in favor of the bill, and I am in excellent physical and mental health.
Yes it benefits me. However the pilot shortage IS REAL. Lowering the First Officer minimum below 1500 hours (as the Regional Airline Association wants) is unacceptable. The victims families of Colgan 3409 will tell you so.
There are pilots at Delta and United getting Captain bids in their first year. Not hearsay.
The captain and first officer of the Colgan flight had 3,379 hours and 2,244 hours, respectively, which doesn't support your point.
How about the pilots that almost crashed at SFO with almost 10,000 hours?
There is no good test to test for mild dementia and loss of good judgment.
On the other hand, lawyers always want you to prove it. Harm pilots by arbitrary age cutoffs? I got my rights! Sue!
Delayed retirement hurts younger pilots, slowing their advancement.
level 1
Full_Pen_7418
·
50 min. ago
My husband is a 64, nearing 65 yo pilot flying 787's and loves it. He is active, healthy and sharp. Age should not define the retirement age. If you pass your Sim tests, maintain a healthy lifestyle, able to complete a physical fitness test (I've seen some younger, heavy pilots that can barely walk down the hall but are still flying), and get appropriate...
level 1
Full_Pen_7418
·
50 min. ago
My husband is a 64, nearing 65 yo pilot flying 787's and loves it. He is active, healthy and sharp. Age should not define the retirement age. If you pass your Sim tests, maintain a healthy lifestyle, able to complete a physical fitness test (I've seen some younger, heavy pilots that can barely walk down the hall but are still flying), and get appropriate health exams every 6-12 months (FAA could start with cognitive testing starting at 60 yo ), then you should be able to fly. Most people who don't have specific hobbies/activities to continue after retirement start a downhill slide in their health. And now, my husband who wants to continue flying will get a job that pays 1/3 of his salary to continue on the smaller planes. Thankfully, we don't necessarily need the money.
Well said! Ditto for my husband..
When you say requiring “fit” people to retire at an arbitrary age seems silly, but it seems every year a commercial airline pilot dies while in flight. Hard to understand how advanced heart disease is overlooked by the doctors who perform these flight physicals. But overall, I have no problem with the age increase.
This is false. No evidentiary information backs this up at all. "It seems" is not quite convincing.
@airbus_jas
AA pilot dies in flight April 8, 2021; AA pilot dies in flight July 27, 2018; AA pilot dies in flight March 31, 2017. That’s just one airline. Any further questions or evidence?
Curious, what were the ages of these AA pilots dying in flight?
"a major regional airline is asking the FAA to lower the minimum number of hours for airline pilots from 1,500 to 750, which seems logical."
Might seem logical to you. Knowing a lot of 750-hour pilots who have never flown anything bigger than a Cessna, it doesn't sound like a great idea to me. 1500 hours is NOT a high bar to meet.
Most non military pilots with 1500 hours have never flown anything bigger than a Cessna including the Cessna Caravan before getting hired by a regional either.
This would not be welcome by the majority of today's airline pilots. The airline pilot profession is 100% a seniority-based profession. Your longevity with the company defines every aspect of what you can or cannot do from a career progression and quality-of-life standpoint. Kicking the can down the road by extending the mandatory retirement age even further just leads to more stagnation and fewer opportunities for younger pilots. 67 tomorrow, then 70 in a couple...
This would not be welcome by the majority of today's airline pilots. The airline pilot profession is 100% a seniority-based profession. Your longevity with the company defines every aspect of what you can or cannot do from a career progression and quality-of-life standpoint. Kicking the can down the road by extending the mandatory retirement age even further just leads to more stagnation and fewer opportunities for younger pilots. 67 tomorrow, then 70 in a couple more years when the system problem of not enough pilots is still not fixed.
Need to fix the reasons why people aren't entering this profession rather than just make it more lucrative for the would-be hangers-on at the top of the ladder. With near certainty I can tell you that the vast majority of airline pilots under the age of 55-60 are a hard Hell No on extending the retirement age further.
Additionally, at what age does Senator Graham or other supporters propose some additional measure of cognitive testing to eliminate the risk of age-related cognitive decline in the cockpit? The current 2x/year medical exam for older airline pilots does not test cognitive ability AT ALL, and you can argue that the periodic check rides will not catch that either. Anybody can have a passable simulator check ride...but at some age, decline sets in, and will manifest itself at inopportune times. Don't want to be the passenger on that all-nighter to Europe, landing in bad weather, when fog sets in with the guys up front (because they were super senior and got that sweet trip).
I'm not a pilot, but I did follow some of their (public) deliberations back in 2007, and there were many pilots furious at the idea of raising the retirement age to 65. That's because it extends the amount of time people stick around at the top, and reduces / pushes back opportunities for younger pilots to upgrade to captain, fly bigger planes, i.e. make more money and fly better schedules. I'm sure raising it to 67 would encounter similar frustration.
A bunch of old bastards that don't have a clue. Your health is good ..ok
Albert..."Even further just leads to more stagnation and fewer opportunities for younger pilots"
This is total bull. There are upgrades going on at the major airlines and Fedex well inside of two years right now. That is the FARTHEST thing from stagnation. Is has never beren so EASY and so FAST to become a major airline captain. This is a fact.
Your argument is flawed by emotion and contradiction to FACTS.
Right. Because this industry has no history of downturns that disproportionately affect the bottom of the seniority list. Your argument is flawed by SHORTSIGHTEDNESS.
Those upgrades you claim to be your evidence are positions you would never ever ever consider. The question that needs to be asked… why are those positions so junior? The answer is because they’re awful. They are junior because no one wants to work them… reality is exactly the opposite of your reasoning.
Everything that comes out of Graham's mouth is always suspect. Employers often offer severance package to highest earning employees, typically beyond age 50. Apply to all ages if the industry downtown is severe. I wish Congress members and judicial appointees faced the same retirement age at 70. But they write and interpret the laws to serve their self-interests. Three Supreme Court justices died while serving on the court in the last two decades.
The mandatory retirement age for a president should be 65. Biden and Trump are both way past their sell by date.
And yet air traffic controller's in the US are still forced to retire at 56.
Thank goodness
I think it's less complicated to avoid catastrophe for 1 plane compared to hundreds of plane.
Aging does affect reaction time and every second counts. Compound that to the whole sky.
But IMHO, ATC would be automated and humans will be redundant in the future.
Happy to be forced out when the time comes (albeit I'm hoping to bail at 49-51). If I really need money, I'll move to a non-op position beforehand.
@Eskimo... a good portion of things will be moving to automated. It may yet be awhile. In an Oxford study, ATC was ranked 178/700 of jobs (in order least likely to most likely) to be automated.
But beyond that, first the FAA would need to move beyond tech from the 80s and 90s.
I left the day I turned 50.
I also fly for a major legacy US airline. I can with 100% certainty tell you “we” in the majority are against it. I think it’s great someone in their early 60’s can fly 11 days a month on a full widebody schedule and make that kind of money. Perhaps at 65 you want to exit the widebody and go back to NB domestic only? I’d buy that. Otherwise, don’t stagnate the profession. You want more years flying? Go get a corporate job.