The Pilot Shortage

The airline industry is an essential domestic and global service that is facing a severe pilot shortage brought about by a perfect storm of factors: a wave of retirements of pilots hired in the 80’s and 90’s, an unprecedented number of pilots who took early retirement during the Covid19 pandemic, the exorbitant cost for new civilian pilots to become qualified, and increases in aircraft deliveries to our airlines. The industry is seeing significant cancellations of flights and disruption to air commerce.  Without relief, this is projected to get worse.

To help mitigate the impact of the pilot shortage Congress is considering raising the airline pilot retirement age, a move that we strongly support.

Would the U.S. Be the Only Country To Raise the Age?

Today, nine countries have no upper age limit, and fifty-five countries have an upper age limit greater than 60, ranging from 62-72.   Japan has increased the pilot retirement age to 68 because of their pilot shortage.  In Japan, raising the pilot retirement age is helping to solve the problem.

Will Increasing the Retirement Age in the U.S. Increase Risk Due to Older Pilots?

Some who oppose raising the age cite increased risk due to health concerns. In 2007 when Congress was considering raising the retirement from 60 to 65 those who opposed the increase made the same health related arguments of increased risk.  Over the last fifteen years since the age has increased their arguments have been proven false. 

The truth is that life expectancies are increasing and pilots are living longer and healthier lives than ever before.  Many focus on healthy living with diet, exercise and preventative medicine at the forefront of their personal lives. Today medical diagnostics and predictive tools are more accurate and valuable than ever.  Pilots are highly scrutinized and monitored by the FAA Aeromedical division. There is simply no evidence that increasing the retirement age will increase risk.

Will Pilot Job Progression Stagnate if the Age is Increased?

Some who oppose raising the age are concerned about stagnation of their job progression.  The reality is that the airlines are upgrading pilots at record levels now and will continue to do so as the airlines receive the hundreds of new aircraft on order.  Today, pilot progression is happening so quickly that airlines cannot keep up with training. These training backlogs lead to increasing numbers of delayed and cancelled flights.  Raising the retirement age will allow more experienced pilots to train and mentor more new pilots.

Are There Other Solutions?

ALPA proposes student loan forgiveness and other financial incentives to cure the pilot shortage. That’s a great idea but it is not enough, and it will not have an impact when we need it, today. It will take years for trainees to gain the necessary experience to sit on the flightdeck. In the meantime, raising the retirement age will help fill the gap immediately.  Raising the airline pilot retirement age will buy time to allow more and more aspiring aviators the time needed to move into the training and experiential pipeline.

Should Congress Reduce Qualifications for New Pilots?

While some are advocating a reduction in the qualifications for pilots to solve the problem, science and recent airline accidents clearly indicate such a move would reduce safety.  In fact, it was these very accidents, caused by inexperienced pilots that led the industry to lobby for, help to write, and ultimately achieve higher standards for the qualification and training of airline pilots. 

In aviation there is simply no substitute for experience.  Experienced pilots mentor less experienced pilots. These elements are essential pieces of the aviation safety equation, and are paramount to why the U.S. aviation industry today boasts one of the highest safety records of all time.

The Federal Aviation Administration believes that experience is so important that it has now mandated that major airlines establish programs where experienced pilots mentor the airline’s newer pilots.

Pilots Helping Their Companies Help America

Raising the retirement age will go a long way in helping to mitigate the pilot shortage crisis.  This will lead to a viable and prosperous airline industry for future workers, and at the same time ensure our passengers and cargo get where they need to get today.

During the Covid pandemic, pilots stepped up to the plate and made significant sacrifices to help keep their airlines afloat.  Extending the retirement age will allow all pilots to help recover from those sacrifices.   

Raising the mandatory airline pilot retirement age is a win for everyone.  Congress should act immediately to help relieve the pilot shortage and shore up the industry. 

How Can I Help?

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