ALPA says that legislation to increase the airline pilot retirement age is not backed up by data.
The truth is data shows pilots tend to be healthier than the general public due to the fact that pilots
undergo frequent medical testing that identifies health issues that would disqualify a pilot from flying.
In addition, pilot competency is regularly tested in the simulator, which uses historical data to present
just about every kind of scenario a pilot could face. There is no other profession in the world that is
assessed as extensively and as frequently as pilots.
ALPA says that moving older pilots to domestic flights would create a scheduling nightmare.
The truth is a significant number of pilots being forced to retire are already flying domestic routes or
routes that are not subject to age restrictions. Even if a pilot is required to transition from international
routes, they are likely to step back into equipment they have previously flown. Any requalification that
may be required is significantly shorter and less involved than what is required to train new pilots.
ALPA says that extending the current retirement age to 67 would greatly reduce demand for new pilots.
The truth is we need as many pilots as we can get. The pilot shortage is real and is made worse by the
fact that airlines are seeking to add tens of thousands of new pilots to the workforce. The major airlines are so desperate for pilots that they are pulling pilots from the regional airlines (leading to canceled service in rural areas) and promoting people to captain with little to no experience, just to avoid cancelling even more flights than they have already canceled.
ALPA says the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will never change the international age limits for commercial pilots.
The truth is the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) has requested that ICAO increase
age limits for commercial pilots and in response, ICAO is reviewing best practices used by the nine
countries that allow flying past age 65.
ALPA says that seeking to pass legislation to increase the airline pilot retirement age is a distraction that
consumes time, energy and effort that could be better utilized focusing on the next generation of workers.
The truth is addressing the pilot shortage will require reducing the number of pilots who are leaving the profession and drawing new pilots to the profession. Increasing the airline pilot retirement age will
provide immediate relief and allow time to put the mechanisms in place that are needed to meet the
growing demand for pilots, and without jeopardizing the safety of the flying public.
ALPA says that a study conducted by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) concludes that raising the
retirement age is a bad idea.
The truth is the study only considered the risk of pilot incapacitation, it only looked at information in
the context of EU regulations (which are different than U.S. standards) and it did not review the
implications of raising age limits on an incremental basis (65-67). The study also included an important
disclaimer which says it was carried out for EASA by an external organization and is provided for
information purposes only and that the views expressed in the study have not been adopted, endorsed or in any way approved by EASA.
Bottom line: Fitness to fly should be based on an individual assessment of a pilot’s health and ability,
regardless of age. Please endorse the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act (H.R.1761).
JOIN US TODAY – REGISTER NOW AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIGHT TO END AGEISM AND LET EXPERIENCED PILOTS FLY!