Pilots lobby Congress against FAA's Age 60 Rule

Dozens of pilots are lobbying the U.S. Congress this week in an effort to convince lawmakers to rescind the FAA's so-called Age 60 Rule, which mandates that passenger airline and cargo pilots in the United States retire when they reach 60 years of age.

According to an Associated Press article on the Airport Business website:

On Tuesday, about 30 pilots launched a two-day lobbying blitz to let Congress know that they feel perfectly capable of staying on in the cockpit until they're 65.

"Safety is no longer an issue for discussion, as foreign airlines from all parts of the world have, for many years, demonstrated that they have been able to safely fly to age 65," said United Airlines pilot Allan Englehardt, 59.

For example, Englehardt said, Israeli airline El Al has allowed its pilots to fly until 65 for the past 15 years, and has had no accidents.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr has said there is "no compelling scientific or medical evidence that would cause us to reconsider the current age limit."

But Congress could require a change, he added, and the FAA would have to adhere to that.

If the current rule stays in place, an estimated 1,631 pilots for U.S. airlines will be forced to retire this year. By 2017, the tally will reach about 35,000.

While some argue that allowing older pilots to continue flying is risky because they may be subject to sudden and incapacitating health problems, regulations in a number of countries do allow pilots to fly past the age of 60. Some of those pilots fly aircraft within U.S. airspace.

Under current international standards, foreign pilots older than 60 may fly into the United States as co-pilots. Effective Nov. 23, the International Civil Aviation Organization will raise the age limits for pilots, too.

That means foreign pilots will be able to fly in the United States up to age 65, so long as they're accompanied by a co-pilot under 60 and they undergo medical testing every six months.

"The issue was age discrimination, but now it has become discrimination against Americans," Englehardt said. "It's the rights of Americans who have served our country in the military and paid taxes for 40 years, versus the rights being given to foreign pilots who pay no taxes."

For more news and information about this issue, visit the Pilot Age Limits page on the AircrewHealth.com website.

Source: Airline Pilots Lobby to Fly Past Age 60 - Airport Business

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