Argentina Removes Age Limit For Commercial Pilots
https://simpleflying.com/argentina-remo ... 7101120838
Argentina's aviation regulator has scrapped the country's age cap for commercial pilots, letting them fly for longer without being forced to retire. Previously, the single-pilot age limit was set at 60 years old, while the multi-pilot limit was at 65. Argentina could be followed by other countries in the coming years as international efforts to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age continue.
Argentina removes maximum pilot age
Earlier this week, the National Civil Aviation Administration of Argentina (ANAC) announced Resolution 516/2024, which changes the Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC) to remove age limits on commercial pilots. As explained by ANAC, the change will "increase the age limit for the holder of a pilot’s license to exercise his powers in commercial air transport operations on national and international flights."
The regulator added that its decision was based on improvements in medical technology and demand from airlines and other industry stakeholders, stating,
"With advances in medicine in general, and the need to have pilots to meet the growing demand of the aeronautical market, it is necessary to reevaluate the age limit at which pilot’s license holders can exercise their functions."
There will, of course, still be stringent conditions to maintain a pilot license, including passing medical and airline evaluations. Argentina implemented its age restrictions starting in 2010 in accordance with recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which advises an upper age limit of 60 for single pilots and 65 for pilots in multi-crew commercial operations.
Should there be a pilot age cap?
Almost all aviation regulators maintain a maximum commercial pilot age based on ICAO's recommendations. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the mandatory retirement of Part 121 pilots by the age of 65, although they can continue flying for an airline that is not a Part 121 carrier. However, there have been widespread calls to raise the retirement age, particularly in light of pilot shortages and medical advancements.
For example, at ICAO's Air Navigation Conference this summer, one of the agendas was the idea of raising the global pilot retirement age. In the US, the conversation is ongoing - in February, Congress rejected a motion to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 (with the FAA also in agreement), but attempts to push through change have persisted. Most recently, a group of US senators urged the government to support ongoing international efforts to increase the pilot retirement age, stating that the "American public deserves the most qualified and experienced pilots when traveling."
How Have Pilot Retirement Ages Changed Over The Years?
The retirement age has increased by 20 years since the inception of the law.
The question is a tricky one—while it is true that our cognitive powers are probably not what they used to be once we reach our mid-60s, there are still perfectly capable and reliable pilots at this age. Add to the mix the ongoing industry pilot shortage and the fact that commercial pilot operations are a lot more automated than they used to be, and it's easy to see why many in the industry are pushing for the age cap to be raised.
PP
Argentina removes maximum pilot age
Re: Argentina removes maximum pilot age
More insight on pilot age rules:
How Have Pilot Retirement Ages Changed Over The Years?
https://simpleflying.com/argentina-remo ... 7101120838
Harvard University reports that the average age of people in the United States in the year 1900 was 47 years. When the Wright Brothers flew an aircraft for the first time in 1903, Orville Wright was thirty-two years old, while Wilbur Wright was thirty-six years old.
In 2019, however, the average age of the people in the US was 79. In light of how much the average human expectancy has increased, one might wonder how much the age of retirement for Pilots has changed over the years.
When was a formal rule on a pilot's retirement age first put in place?
The National Air and Space Museum reports that commercial aviation began in the US in 1914, the year World War I started. It might be safe to argue that in those times, the question of a pilot's retirement age wasn't a pressing one.
AIN Online reports that "the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) established the first age limit for pilots in 1919, set at 45 years." A few decades later, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was formed. The newly formed organization, which superseded ICAN, also got rid of the pilot's age restriction in 1949.
A limit of 60 years was placed after the dawn of jet travel
In 1950, the average life expectancy in the US was 68 years. At the turn of this decade, there were no restrictions on a pilot's retirement age. During this time, aircraft technology was also changing, with aircraft such as the Douglas DC-8 on the horizon, reported aviospace.org.
With the change in aircraft technology, a few carriers were also wondering if older pilots would be able to transition to turbine aircraft.
While the mandatory retirement at the age of 60 introduced by American Airlines, TWA, and Western Airlines in 1958 might have drawn letters of grievance from pilots, stacking up the age of retirement against the average life expectancy in the decade gives us the impression that the retirement age was rather apt.
A few reasons why the age limit was deemed to be sixty (by the three aforementioned airlines) include:
Additional costs of training old pilots (when young, military-trained jet pilots were available)
Declining mental abilities that come with age
But there were legal battles that ensued
The three carriers that had put the age-limit of 60 years into place were soon criticized for a violation of the labor law. It was said that reaching the age of sixty, on its own, didn't present enough evidence that a pilot who was above this age would be operating an aircraft poorly. It was also found that three airlines mentioned above had violated the law.
American Airlines' refusal to comply with the ruling ignited a pilot's strike, reported AIN Online, after which
"....American’s CEO, C.R. Smith, sent a private missive to the head of the FAA, Elwood Quesada—the two were close friends, having served together in the Army Air Force during World War II—advocating a government-mandated retirement age. Whatever the impact of Smith’s entreaty, soon thereafter the agency drafted a medical justification for mandatory retirement, and by year’s end the age 60 rule was published."
The current mandates for a pilot's retirement age
A pilot's retirement age recommended by the ICAO, is 60 years or 65 years, depending upon whether the operations are single-pilot or multi-pilot:
" The Standard limits the privileges for pilots in single-pilot commercial air transport operations to 60 years of age, while extending that limit to 65 years of age for multi-pilot operations. This applies to operations conducted in all categories of manned aircraft and is valid for all pilot positions designated by an operator. ICAO specifies an annual medical assessment for those under 60 years who are engaged in two-pilot operations but when over 60, a six-monthly medical assessment is necessary. "
Here's a table that outlines the history of how the pilot retirement age has evolved over the years:
Year
Regulation/ Proposal for pilot's age
The governing body that introduced/ proposed the change
1945
An age limit of 45 years was established.
ICAN
1962
Age limit of sixty years ("based on the statistical data regarding the risk of sudden incapacitation" as reported by Dr. Cristian Panait, an EASA Medical Expert)
ICAO
2006
Age limit was increased to 65 for "multi-crew operations subject to the second member of the flight crew to be below the age of 60"
ICAO
2013
Proposal for the abolition of the ‘1 under, one over’ policy
ICAO
2016
Proposal for increasing the pilot's age limit to 68 years
Japan to the ICAO assembly
How might the age limit look as we head to the future?
In 2022, it was discussed in the US whether a pilot's retirement could be raised to 67, reported the Air Line Pilot's Association (ALPA). The association also reported that "safety data shows an elevated fatal accident rate for FAR Part 135 operations for pilots over the age of 65". The concerns regarding raising a pilot's retirement age have become stronger as the airline industry is currently facing pilot shortages.
ALPA also warns that raising a pilot's retirement age in the US might have other consequences that have not been carefully evaluated:
" These over-65 pilots will most likely bump younger pilots from the training cycle, causing a cascading effect and ultimately making fewer pilots trained and available overall for the aviation system in the US, increasing delays and costs for both airlines and passengers."
While a study conducted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA) recommended that the retirement age for pilots should not exceed 65 years, it would be interesting to note if data and surveys in the future point to a different direction.
PP
How Have Pilot Retirement Ages Changed Over The Years?
https://simpleflying.com/argentina-remo ... 7101120838
Harvard University reports that the average age of people in the United States in the year 1900 was 47 years. When the Wright Brothers flew an aircraft for the first time in 1903, Orville Wright was thirty-two years old, while Wilbur Wright was thirty-six years old.
In 2019, however, the average age of the people in the US was 79. In light of how much the average human expectancy has increased, one might wonder how much the age of retirement for Pilots has changed over the years.
When was a formal rule on a pilot's retirement age first put in place?
The National Air and Space Museum reports that commercial aviation began in the US in 1914, the year World War I started. It might be safe to argue that in those times, the question of a pilot's retirement age wasn't a pressing one.
AIN Online reports that "the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) established the first age limit for pilots in 1919, set at 45 years." A few decades later, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was formed. The newly formed organization, which superseded ICAN, also got rid of the pilot's age restriction in 1949.
A limit of 60 years was placed after the dawn of jet travel
In 1950, the average life expectancy in the US was 68 years. At the turn of this decade, there were no restrictions on a pilot's retirement age. During this time, aircraft technology was also changing, with aircraft such as the Douglas DC-8 on the horizon, reported aviospace.org.
With the change in aircraft technology, a few carriers were also wondering if older pilots would be able to transition to turbine aircraft.
While the mandatory retirement at the age of 60 introduced by American Airlines, TWA, and Western Airlines in 1958 might have drawn letters of grievance from pilots, stacking up the age of retirement against the average life expectancy in the decade gives us the impression that the retirement age was rather apt.
A few reasons why the age limit was deemed to be sixty (by the three aforementioned airlines) include:
Additional costs of training old pilots (when young, military-trained jet pilots were available)
Declining mental abilities that come with age
But there were legal battles that ensued
The three carriers that had put the age-limit of 60 years into place were soon criticized for a violation of the labor law. It was said that reaching the age of sixty, on its own, didn't present enough evidence that a pilot who was above this age would be operating an aircraft poorly. It was also found that three airlines mentioned above had violated the law.
American Airlines' refusal to comply with the ruling ignited a pilot's strike, reported AIN Online, after which
"....American’s CEO, C.R. Smith, sent a private missive to the head of the FAA, Elwood Quesada—the two were close friends, having served together in the Army Air Force during World War II—advocating a government-mandated retirement age. Whatever the impact of Smith’s entreaty, soon thereafter the agency drafted a medical justification for mandatory retirement, and by year’s end the age 60 rule was published."
The current mandates for a pilot's retirement age
A pilot's retirement age recommended by the ICAO, is 60 years or 65 years, depending upon whether the operations are single-pilot or multi-pilot:
" The Standard limits the privileges for pilots in single-pilot commercial air transport operations to 60 years of age, while extending that limit to 65 years of age for multi-pilot operations. This applies to operations conducted in all categories of manned aircraft and is valid for all pilot positions designated by an operator. ICAO specifies an annual medical assessment for those under 60 years who are engaged in two-pilot operations but when over 60, a six-monthly medical assessment is necessary. "
Here's a table that outlines the history of how the pilot retirement age has evolved over the years:
Year
Regulation/ Proposal for pilot's age
The governing body that introduced/ proposed the change
1945
An age limit of 45 years was established.
ICAN
1962
Age limit of sixty years ("based on the statistical data regarding the risk of sudden incapacitation" as reported by Dr. Cristian Panait, an EASA Medical Expert)
ICAO
2006
Age limit was increased to 65 for "multi-crew operations subject to the second member of the flight crew to be below the age of 60"
ICAO
2013
Proposal for the abolition of the ‘1 under, one over’ policy
ICAO
2016
Proposal for increasing the pilot's age limit to 68 years
Japan to the ICAO assembly
How might the age limit look as we head to the future?
In 2022, it was discussed in the US whether a pilot's retirement could be raised to 67, reported the Air Line Pilot's Association (ALPA). The association also reported that "safety data shows an elevated fatal accident rate for FAR Part 135 operations for pilots over the age of 65". The concerns regarding raising a pilot's retirement age have become stronger as the airline industry is currently facing pilot shortages.
ALPA also warns that raising a pilot's retirement age in the US might have other consequences that have not been carefully evaluated:
" These over-65 pilots will most likely bump younger pilots from the training cycle, causing a cascading effect and ultimately making fewer pilots trained and available overall for the aviation system in the US, increasing delays and costs for both airlines and passengers."
While a study conducted by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency ( EASA) recommended that the retirement age for pilots should not exceed 65 years, it would be interesting to note if data and surveys in the future point to a different direction.
PP