How old can a pilot be?
 

Assuming they pass the appropriate tests, is there a mandatory retirement age for pilots? does it vary by airline?

Yep! 60, it is. Do you remember the UA crash in Iowa? I believe it was the pilot's last flight prior to turning 60 when it was mandated that he retire. This experienced pilot saved a lot of lives. I would be curious to know when the age 60 retirement rule was implemented.

No, they're not.

ALPA is conducting an education campaign to inform their membership of the implications, both positive and negative, for both the airlines and the pilots. Once that is complete they will poll their membership on the issue of a change in the rule.

60 sounds reasonable (for any flight I'm on)

Was reluctant to ask about FA's as that still has the beauty contest stigma.

Just curious, what other jobs have mandatory retirement?

(I really wanted to know the answer, but yes, I miss Omni, and yes I have an agenda. I'm trying to convince a 72 year old secretary that if she's able to get to work and able to cash her check, she's able to learn new things. Alan Greenspan is 78.)

The rule was enacted in the 1959.

Here is a site that presents the propoganda from the pro-change side:
http://www.ppf.org

I couldn't find a site that presents the anti-change propoganda in such a comprehensive manner but the following position paper from the APA provides an executive summary:
http://www.alliedpilots.org/Public/T...ge_60_rule.pdf

This article provides a balanced look at both sides:
http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp...2&print_page=y

From what I understand, this is a "hot" topic with pilots. The older folks want the age raised, but the younger folks are against it. Lot's of pros and cons either way I guess.

I think air traffic controllers have a force retirement age as well.

U.S. air traffic controllers must retire by 56.

Not every country requires pilots to retire by 60. Some 45 countries let pilots go beyond that. They generally can't even fly through a country that doesn't allow pilots over 60 however, which can effectively end the career of some European pilots.

Mandatory retirement at 60 is ridiculous. The number 60 is simply a number and it has no relationship whatsoever to health, strength, flexibility, agility and or mental acuity. Almost all of the people I know who are 20 years (and even more) younger than I, couldn't keep up with me on a bet.

Hunki and I are both "post 60" and are both very buff, very strong and in better shape than most 20 and 30 year olds we know. Yesterday I worked out with my son's 25 year old girlfriend, who, BTW, is in very good shape and works out amost every day. Of course, my weight-lifting routine was new to her and old to me, but I still went through it with more umph than she, despite the fact that I was using heavier weights throughout.

Age no longer means anything. The new tests should be based strictly on strength, balance, flexibility, agility, and general good health. All of you youngsters, and even oldsters, should take heart and get up and go. You can make your body into whatever you want it to be, regardless of your age.

I will share an absolutely straight-up, unabridged e-mail I received today from my Doc:

"You are a wonder! Keep up the great work and take pride in the fact that you are in better shape than most people 40 years younger!"

If I can do this, anyone can. Forget about the age stuff.

Trust me, you wouldn't want most 56-year-old ATCs working your airplane. There's a good reason a good many retire in their 40s when they're first eligible. I'm afraid, when it comes to some things age is more than a number.

Edited to add that some other federal jobs involving safety also have mandatory retirement ages - federal firefighters must go at 57 (Bush increased it from 55) and some law enforcement personnel have age limits.

Actually the Captain of that flight, United 232, was Al Haynes. Captain Haynes was 57 at the time. He survived the crash and retuned to United where he finished out his career on the DC-10 before retiring at age 60.

There is no mandatory retirement age for FA's...there are some still flying that were *hired* in the 1950's. :eek:

You may well be right letiole that I would not want most 56-year-old ATCs working my airplane. When I see the abuse to which the majority of people subject their bodies, I probably wouldn't want the majority of 20, 30 and 40-year-olds working my plane either. That is the reason why I believe that fitness level, not age, should be used at the determining factor for mandatory retirement.


Unless we get cancer or hit by a truck, we will probably all live to be 100. If we take good care of our bodies, there is no reason whasoever that we can't remain strong, flexible, agile and mentally sharp until we are 90. I am totally inspired when I see someone like Jack Lalanne who is still going strong at 90. We can all do that if we are willing to work at it.

I think that the age rule on ATCs has more to do with repeated extreme mental stress and burn-out than physical conditioning.

Of course, one could also make the argument that someone who has been an ATC since age 20 might well be better off retired at 56, while someone who became one at age 54 is not yet burned out 2 years later.

Yeah, I know, there's probably an upper age limit at which one could become an ATC, but just saying for the sake of argument.

The mandatory retirement age is set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations agency based in Montreal that essentially sets world aviation standards.

Countries do not have to comply with it, but if they don't they have to notify other countries, who might deny the pilot the right to fly there.

The largest country that doesn't follow the age-60 rule is France, but Air France has a policy of not having over-60 pilots fly to the U.S.

Cheers,
Leo

British Airways pilots retire at 55 I believe. We had a local chap who was flying Concorde with BA and then went to work for Flying Tigers Cargo :(