FAA Seeks To Raise Pilots' Retirement Age

Change Would Let Pilots Fly Until They're 65, Mirroring Most Foreign Carriers

(CBS)  By CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

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CBS News has learned that the Federal Aviation Administration is seeking new regulations to increase the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 60 to 65. FAA administrator Marion Blakey is expected to make a formal announcement on Tuesday in a speech at the National Press Club in Washington.

Sources say the new FAA rules will closely mirror new international regulations which allow a pilot to continue flying up to age 65 as long as his/her co-pilot in the cockpit is younger than 60. The International Civil Aviation Organization increased its pilot retirement age from 60 to 65 last November. Since then, most airline pilots, except those flying for airlines in Colombia, France, Pakistan and the United States, have been permitted to keep their jobs past 60.

The U.S. "Age 60" retirement rule has been on the books since 1960 and has always been somewhat controversial. Senior captains have embraced early retirement because generous pension benefits have usually guaranteed a good retirement. At the same time, younger pilots have benefited with quicker promotions and airlines have been able to eliminate the highest-paid senior positions earlier than most other companies in the business world.

But, other pilots have complained the Age 60 rule is arbitrary and denies them the opportunity to continue making a living. With financially strapped airlines now cutting and cancelling pensions, many older pilots say they need to keep working. Of course, that prospect would create a roadblock for younger pilots who are looking for promotions or a chance to return from furloughs.

In addition, without a change, the FAA would be confronted with a double standard. Foreign pilots older than 60 could fly into and out of the United States, even as their American counterparts were being forced to retire.

Aviation officials say, in part, the Age 60 rule has endured for decades because of concerns that older pilots may be more prone to health issues. But numerous medical experts have testified recently that there is no valid scientific basis to keep pilots from safely flying to age 65 and even beyond. Senior pilots have argued persuasively that long-term experience more than compensates for eroding motor skills.

Now, it seems, the FAA agrees. But the proposed new regulations will certainly bring challenges — and aviation experts say it could be a year, or even longer, before the new rules take effect.

[wagsplace]

For retired commercial pilots, such as myself, will the FAA be supportive of allowing us to return to the cockpit?
Will the Air Lines Pilots Association,ALPA, be supportive of pilots to return with their seniority to their airlines?
Many of us have had pensions reduced over 50% and consider ALPA to have been a force against raising the age. Now that it seems to be a certainty, will ALPA support our return, with our seniority, provided retired pilots pass the same FAA physical and check rides?
There are many questions regarding the change in the age 60 ruling. Most pilots believe this should have been done years ago, but ALPA was firmly against it and lobbied against it.
This is worth investigating.

[dusty861]

Just last week a 59 year old pilot died in the cockpit of a Continental 767 in flight. My condolences to his family. This time the flight landed safety because another training Captain was flying as the first officer. The age 60 rule has helped make the US air transportation system the safest in the world and now the government wants to change it. Hopefully your family won't be on the first flight that crashes due to a medical issue of an Airline Pilot who dies at the average age of 62 1/2 and is now allowed to be is at the controls.

[n757us]

About 6-7 years ago a Northwest DC10 captain passed away enroute and the flight landed safely without a checkpilot on board. That captain was about 52. Perhaps the retirement age should have been 51. The point being that there is nothing magic about 60. In fact I believe you will find that more pilots have died under 55 than over while on duty. I also believe that you will find more fatal accidents attributable to pilot error with pilots under 55 than over 55.

[clarkwilson1]

Last month I was forced into unemployment with dim prospects of finding any gainful employment only because I celebrated my 60th birthday on December 11th 2006. I am a professional airline pilot with over 40 years experience in aviation including 17 years as an airline captain. I also have a perfect safety record showing no accidents, incidents or violations. I have put all my professional effort and skills in this profession and thus have no other professional skills. I feel that I need to work to support my family. Providing support for my family is a basic human need that I should not be denied without good cause, especially when that privilege is granted to foreign pilots in my own country of residence and citizenship.
The current age 60 restriction in FAR Part 121.383(c) abridges my privileges by denying me my liberty and ability to earn a living in my chosen profession. This violation of my civil liberty is causing me to suffer undo harm and severe financial hardship. My airline neither offered a defined benefit retirement plan nor medical benefits to age 65 when one becomes eligible for Medicare. At the very least, I need to pilot aircraft in FAR Part 121 operations to the age of 63 when I am eligible for partial Social Security.

[buc21jrs3]

I feel that the public is being misled by saying that this is not a safety issue meanwhile the other pilot has to be under the age of 60. Clearly that if you are going to place this double-standard then it is a safety issue. The FAA should have an all or nothing policy.
ALPA's membership stance as a whole is against the changing of the age limit to 65. The FAA has already stated that this will be a prospective change and will not grandfather those under 65 to come back to work.

If the rule is changed then you will open Pandora's Box to numerous problems. One problem will be that the airlines will have to mix and match flight crews to adapt to the FAA policy of one crew member being under 60.
The idea that one over 60 is going to be held to a higher physical and proficient standard is a farce. With the unions extensive red tape, coupled with pilots having their aero medical doctor for years giving them their physical, very few will be forced out past 60 even though they may not be up to the required standards.
I do not mean to sound callus, but I think that the airlines need to keep moving forward and by implementing the 65 rule will only stagnate the state of the industry an additional five years.

[bleep7]

As a soon to be retiring pilot, I am tired and cannot wait to get on with my life. I have noticed in the last few year my faculties and reaction times slowing. I would be pushing the limits to fly past 60 and I just wont do it. I have no major medical probs and generally feel pretty good but I am definitely not 30 any more. In my opinion this change will reduce safety. I know a few guys that want to stick around past 60. When I press them for thier opinion they admit they are not as sharp or medically fit as they used to be, but continuing to pull in some extra cash and benefits is a strong urge. Also two of my friends are worried about losing their "identity" as an "airline captain." I think that is laughable, but thats me. I have other friends that are truly not medically fit to cont. beyond 60, period. They are truely just barely hanging in there.
And to a prior poster hoping to return to his airline with his old seniority, don't get your hopes up. The FAA has stated that if changed this will be a prospective change and will not grandfather those under 65 to come back to work.
And I am sure there will be class action lawsuits where retired pilots will waste their retirement money trying to get their job back.
What a waste of money paid to lawyers. Even if they won the right to return, class action lawsuits are never fast and they will all probably pass their 65th birthday before it is decided.
I going to make it simple and leave at 60.

[fdxcap]

Isn't it ironic the FAA has no mandatory retirement for their own pilots.....no age limit at all.

[fly2top]

In addition to safety we must also consider supply and demand. I am on my way to being qualified as an airline pilot very soon. Will I be shut out of the industry for a few years due to less demand? Is it really the end for airline pilots who turn 60? Corporate flying is readilly available for those in sufficient health. This is a unique industry... one that I would label as a "privledge". I would rather be forced out an age that has been pre-decided on as opposed to never live the dream at all. If the demand of pilots continues then I have no problem with the increase in age... but if demand stiffens then I would suggest airline pilots fly corporate, use other aquired skills, or spend time with their grandchildren.

[buc21jrs3]

Obviously the big push to up the retirement limit is monetary. A pilot who begins their career as an aviator knows that if they want to fly at the commercial airline level then they must retire at 60. Now since Sept. 11, 2001 they are financially "struggling" because they did not plan accordingly and have placed all their eggs in one basket. I think it is criminal that their pensions were cut and the CEO's who were brought in to fix the mess walked away with their golden parachute with nothing to show for their tenure at the airline. With that being said, I have flown with many 55+ captains who want to change the rules to support their previous marriage payments, keep their title (ego), etc. The rest of the industry should not have to pay for those loud voices who do not want to play by the rules and use the "age discrimination" card to fight their cause that they benefited from until now.

[legendary240]

Let 'em fly 'til they croak. Just don't let 'em fly 'til they're at least 30.

[agnim]

IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!

Let those old buzzards make way for youth in this HIGH RISK JOB!

A lot of those pilots already have the equivalence of an older brain WHEN THEY FLY INTOXICATED!

Pilots are worried about a trivial thing as 'continue making a living'.

However, the 'continue living' of a PLANE LOAD OF PEOPLE is far MORE VITAL that the salary of ONE OLD INDIVIDUAL!

[rick-nelson]

re: Mandatory retirement - I think there should be no issue in anyone's mind other than 'competency'. Accordingly, test pilots regularly and rigorously.