But support for the measure is not universal among pilots, even within ALPA, where the unions Northwest Branch told Oberstar in a May letter that they "strongly oppose" changing the current age standard. But with several of the major airlines in bankruptcy, pilots are seeing their pensions reduced and some are fighting mandatory retirement. I wish Congress members and judicial appointees faced the same retirement age at 70. Reply. Our company has mandatory retirement requiring our employees to retire at age 67. Individual airlines may have different retirement ages, within the specified limits, to ensure they have enough pilots to support their operations. Similarly, our pilots support age 60 retirement by a seven-to-one margin for safety reasons. Right. Copyright 2022 NPR. If someone has never taken any form of flight training before, it will be several years before they will be able to fulfill all the requirements necessary to obtain an airline transport pilot license, including completing a minimum of 1,500 flight hours. Airline pilots must retire at 65 due to concerns about: It is the increased risk of pilot incapacity due to medical conditions that is the main reason pilots must retire at 65. Currently, the mandatory retirement age in the USA is still 65 years. There is also a Restricted Airline Pilot Transport License (R-ATPL), which can be issued at a minimum age of 21. In fact, from a safety perspective, it makes little sense for only charter pilots to work up to five years longer, as opposed to commercial airline pilots, who continue to be required by the FAA to retire at the age . With too few pilots to staff flights, airlines have had to park hundreds of airplanes. Everything that comes out of Graham's mouth is always suspect. Two people familiar with the proposed legislation confirmed that Graham is in the process of building support among his colleagues in Congress before introducing the bill. Commercial airline pilots must retire at age 60. In airline companies, the age in which you are required to retire vary accordingly. something without a mandatory retirement age. "a major regional airline is asking the FAA to lower the minimum number of hours for airline pilots from 1,500 to 750, which seems logical.". But Bjerke and others point out that the United States has enjoyed an unprecedented period of commercial airline safety since the 1,500-hour rule and other safety regulations went into effect a decade ago. GRAHAM: Airlines have to make decisions. Some experts argue that it's not the amount of time in the air that matters, but the quality of the training, and training in a commercial jet simulator will actually be more valuable to an aspiring airline pilot than flying a few hours in a small airplane a couple times a week or on weekends. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. This represents a loss of a quarter of the regional fleet. While the data isnt completely up to date, data studied from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) data from 1975-1982, attributed 3 crashes in 1000, or 15 of 1000 fatal crashes due to pilot medical incapacitation. and Rochester, Minn. Drew Lemos is with the Regional Airlines Association. Airlines had already been staring down a wave of retirements before the pandemic. The shortage is forcing regional airlines, including Mesa Airlines and SkyWest Airlines, to ground planes and cancel flights. In an Oxford study, ATC was ranked 178/700 of jobs (in order least likely to most likely) to be automated. Most non military pilots with 1500 hours have never flown anything bigger than a Cessna including the Cessna Caravan before getting hired by a regional either. Because this industry has no history of downturns that disproportionately affect the bottom of the seniority list. Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox. Balancing that, however, were his 23,000 hours of flying experience. Sign up to receive the latest updates from U.S News & World Report and our trusted partners and sponsors. The U.S. enforces a mandatory retirement age of 65 for commercial airline pilots. "We have a pilot shortage and those who say we don't, well, they're just full of it. A Division of NBCUniversal. The figures have been released showing just how many Legacy Airline pilots will be forced to retire due to reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 years old, and those retirements begin December 17th of this year. Modern aircraft are also easier to fly today, with several protections built into their systems. Dennis Tajer, a 737 pilot for American Airlines and spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association. "Look, these retirement ages are there for a reason and the reason is safety. We expect this pilot issue to persist for the foreseeable future as airlines seek to replace retirements that occurred during the pandemic, retirements that continue and wont peak until later in the decade, and growth, she wrote. But that time is limited. Sort of like allowing politicians a say over womens healthcare choices. In the U.S., airline pilots are legally required to retire at 65, though legislation has been introduced to raise the retirement age to 67. The current pipeline creates roughly 5,000 to 7,000 new pilots annually. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. 50 min. APA said the FAA should be permitted to proceed with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a full vetting of this issue. If the flying bug is still there, join an aeroclub and muck about in a bugsmasher or, even better, a glider. NetJets Pilots Union Accepts Age 70 Mandatory Retirement: NetJets pilots will be forced to retire at age 70, a compromise plan that has the backing of their union, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots said. Don't want to be the passenger on that all-nighter to Europe, landing in bad weather, when fog sets in with the guys up front (because they were super senior and got that sweet trip). "It's a bad idea and it doesn't solve the problem," says Capt. The Panel presented its findings in the areas of aviation safety; collective bargaining; the cost and structure of heath care, disability, and retirement benefits; pilot training; medical standards; and scheduling rules to the Executive Council at its April 2007 meeting. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. A 2017 report by analysts at Cowen estimated that mandatory pilot retirements at the top five U.S. airlines . In the U.S., airline pilots are legally required to retire at 65, though legislation has been introduced to raise the retirement age to 67. We only use the Unless a retired airline pilot wants to find another commercial pilot role, including working as a flight instructor, as it can be very rewarding, they do what most other people do after they retire. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group of Republicans in Congress on Monday proposed legislation to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65, in a bid to address an airline industry staff shortage. 55, at one time, then 60, now 65. . He said the FAA was preparing to award $5 million in workforce development grants to help boost pilot supply but did not provide specifics for easing the immediate shortage. But they write and interpret the laws to serve their self-interests. Retired airline pilots are still able to fly commercially. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) will lead a Senate Commerce Committee field hearing outside of Phoenix on May 13 centered on developing the aviation workforce. I'm sure raising it to 67 would encounter similar frustration. Manno has had a long piloting career which began by flying as a 727 Flight Engineer, and moved up to flying the DC-10 as a Flight Engineer in only a few months. The contributions of more senior pilots may be in training, if not directly in the cockpit. The International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) sets the maximum retirement age at 65, which the FAA has adopted. He points out that even though the airlines received $50 billion in taxpayer funding to keep employees on the payroll during the pandemic, many of them gave pilots generous early retirement packages, including partial pay, benefits and other enticements. Speaking in a news conference in South Carolina, Graham said 14,000 pilots would be forced to retire over the next four years. Mandatory retirement was an idea that took hold of the workplace in the early 20 th century. Those prongs included lowering the hour requirement for new ATPs, allowing consolidation to reduce duplicate flights, and temporarily raising the pilot retirement age to 67. Your longevity with the company defines every aspect of what you can or cannot do from a career progression and quality-of-life standpoint. you covered! I don't think is going to be the answer," Kirby added. The ICAO's website notes that member states may authorize pilots to fly in their airspace after reaching the age of 60 or 65 years, as applicable. Employers May Need To Revisit Their Internal Policies. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. If you pass your Sim tests, maintain a healthy lifestyle, able to complete a physical fitness test (I've seen some younger, heavy pilots that can barely walk down the hall but are still flying), and get appropriate health exams every 6-12 months (FAA could start with cognitive testing starting at 60 yo ), then you should be able to fly. The proposal, which would require pilots over age 65 to pass a rigorous medical screening every six months . 2023 CNBC LLC. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Raising the mandatory pilot retirement age is part of the solution to a critical issue with rippling effects. Survivor Annuity Your spouse, children, or former spouse may get Survivor Annuity benefits if you die while subject to CSRS deductions after completing at least 18 months of creditable civilian service. Its an added margin of safety. A bunch of old bastards that don't have a clue. Although grounded commercial transport pilots have fought over the past decade to regain access to the flight deck, it was not until after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last year allowed pilots to fly until they reach 65 that momentum built quickly to change the rule in the United States. Presently in the U.S. the mandatory retirement age is 65 and due to the predicted pilot shortage, theres talk of raising that to 67, although I have yet to hear anything official on that.. 5 Corbec023 4 yr. ago And now, my husband who wants to continue flying will get a job that pays 1/3 of his salary to continue on the smaller planes. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. While this isn't binding for domestic business aviation operations there are implications for international flights. [25] Air traffic controllers: Mandatory retirement age of 56, with exceptions up to age 61. Today , for jet pilots, that obligation is 8 years from the date of completion of training. Not all U.S. presidents are missed once they leave the White House. Thankfully, we don't necessarily need the money. @airbus_jas "We've got to get more people in the queue to be pilots, but we also have to adjust our age in a reasonable rational way to keep people in the cockpit," Graham, R-S.C., said at a news conference Monday. ", (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter, Paul Simao and Cynthia Osterman). Some regional airlines, including for American Airlines, recently announced big pay bumps to attract and retain pilots. SCHAPER: That's South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham at his home state's Greenville-Spartanburg Airport. United Airlines has ended service to 25 destinations since the pandemic began. Currently there is no mandatory retirement age under Part 91, 91K, or 135. I do feel like a mandatory retirement age is a good idea because motor skills and overall physical vitality diminish with age, says commercial airline Captain Chris Manno. As the country's pilot shortage fuels flight cuts, Sen. Lindsey Graham is introducing legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots to 67 from 65. That hasn't been a problem in . "It's time for America to adjust its age when it comes to allowing qualified people to be in the cockpit," he said. This just kicks the can down the road two years, said one person familiar with the proposed legislation. They are junior because no one wants to work them reality is exactly the opposite of your reasoning. The mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots has not been raised since 2007. For safetys sake, its the right thing to do," APA added. What are you doing to ensure it never happens MEDIA ONLY: To reach our airline expert Edward Russell for interviews requests, email er@skift.com. I'll give a relatively quick synopsis. Five hundred parked aircraft equates to a deficiency of approximately 5,000 pilots. But in May of this year ALPA set a new course on the age 60 debate, voting by an overwhelming 80 percent margin to end the unions longstanding support of the age 60 mandatory retirement age for airline pilots. The Allied Pilots Association, which represents 12,000 pilots of American Airlines, had commissioned an outside polling firm to survey U.S. adults on the issue of pilot retirement age. Email Lindsay at lvb@skift.com. The SWAPA government affairs committee is closely monitoring the issue and working closely with our industry partners to determine the road ahead, the union told members in a notice. Knowing a lot of 750-hour pilots who have never flown anything bigger than a Cessna, it doesn't sound like a great idea to me. Most people who don't have specific hobbies/activities to continue after retirement start a downhill slide in their health. Many pilots in their late 50s and early 60s who make captain will have to endure the junior schedules I did at first as well: red-eyes, on-call, four-day trips, 16 or more days a month. This is false. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia have set mandatory retirement ages as of March 2022. At around the 15-year mark in my airline career, I decided there just had to be more to life than climb, cruise, descent and landing. At that point, he started on a doctorate in rhetoric and literature at Texas Christian University, which he completed seven years later. Airline pilots over 65 will still need to maintain first-class medical certification that must be renewed every 6 months. But beyond that, first the FAA would need to move beyond tech from the 80s and 90s. The FAA reauthorization bill now before Congress no . SCHAPER: Elizabeth Bjerke is an aviation professor and associate dean at the University of North Dakota. Perhaps at 65 you want to exit the widebody and go back to NB domestic only? While the data suggested that the likelihood of incapacitation increased with age, the risk of incapacitation was lower for pilots than among the general population. Unscheduled US carriers (and very small scheduled ones) operate under part 135; neither has an age limit. The Senior Pilots Coalition (SPC), which was set up to push for an age 60 rule change, believes raising the retirement age by five years could help ease the current U.S. airline pilot shortage while putting hundreds of experienced pilots back into the cockpit. "There's a shortage of plans," says Tajer, adding that airline "management did not plan for this recovery" in air travel. It's something that's become all too common this summer, as airports have been busier than at any time since the pandemic began, but airlines struggle to meet the surge in air travel demand. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday introduced legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age of commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67. Go get a corporate job. Now, according to a number of reports, Sen. Lindsey Graham is considering legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots to 67 from 65 as another way to slow. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Commercial airline pilots must retire at age 60. The job requires U.S. citizenship and completion of an air-traffic management degree in programs accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration. However, you will most likely be required to undergo regular medical checkups to make sure . Pilots Airline and commercial pilots also have a mandatory retirement age. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asks questions to Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing to discuss the fiscal year 2023 budget of the Department of Justice at the Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., April 26, 2022. And he contends the air travel problems this summer are not simply because of a shortage of pilots. Reflecting trends in improved health and longevity, the mandatory retirement age for pilots was last raised from 60 to 65 in 2007. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. However, the mandatory age to retire from the Military is also 60-years-of-age. And according to US Senator Lindsey Graham, 14,000 pilots will reach the mandatory retirement age in the next four years. hide caption. ALPA President Capt. Defense Daily readers get exclusive defense industry newsevery business day. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) asks questions to Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing to discuss the fiscal year 2023 budget of the Department of Justice at the Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., April 26, 2022. So this can be taking up or focusing more on a hobby, spending more time with family and friends, and doing volunteer work. Tajer suggests that to the extent there is a shortage of pilots, the airlines brought that upon themselves. The U.S. has raised the mandatory pilot retirement age before, when the FAA upped it to 65 from 60 in 2007.Graham noted that when the age was increased 15 years ago, "the sky did not fall." She doesn't doubt that some airline pilots would be able to continue flying safely after turning 65. With more than 16 years of experience in the aviation industry, she now contributes to leading titles including. PETE BUTTIGIEG: Look; these retirement ages are there for a reason. There is no max age for the medical certificates, but if you're unable to meet class 2 or 1 requirements, you won't be flying for hire. Additionally, there have been major strides in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic conditions, such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, that precede cardiac events, and people are staying healthier for longer and live longer, too. Fox News U.S. "My legislation would allow pilots to continue to fly if they meet the qualifications. "The answer is not to keep the baby boomer generation in the cockpit indefinitely. John Prater said "ALPA pilots will be fully engaged in shaping any rule change since any legislative or regulatory change needs to address ALPAs priorities.". So when you have less pilots, you got to pick what routes to fly. He also holds a PhD in English, is a novelist and cartoonist, and teaches as an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan University a post hes held since 2002. NetJets says the bill has a one-year phase-in period and will affect about 70 pilots who are older than age 70. See more about our ethics policies here. Not a subscriber or a registered user yet? "This is not a solution to the pilot-supply issue," says Elizabeth Bjerke, a pilot, aviation professor and associate dean at the University of North Dakota. ELIZABETH BJERKE: I do think it might be a distraction to the bigger issue of needing to increase and inspire the next generation of pilots. Under the new law, punishments are worse for these crimes. There is also a Restricted Airline Pilot Transport License (R-ATPL), which can be issued at a minimum age of 21. Calls for raising the minimum retirement age So to keep the industry from losing even more pilots, Graham is sponsoring legislation that would raise the mandatory airline pilot. Some pilots associations around the world are pushing for airlines to keep more of their senior pilots onboard. Three Supreme Court justices died while serving on the court in the last two decades. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), however, said Monday that it opposed any attempts to increase the retirement age for professional airline pilots. The Regional Airline Association praised the legislation, saying a pilot shortage has resulted in 500 aircraft "parked and 315 communities losing air service. Yes, the age for eligibility has been rising all over Europe, but so has the retirement age for pilots. Stay connected with the latest travel, aviation, and credit card news. He is active, healthy and sharp. Additionally, at what age does Senator Graham or other supporters propose some additional measure of cognitive testing to eliminate the risk of age-related cognitive decline in the cockpit? There are almost 25% fewer flights, as regional airlines have had to cut a lot of service to smaller airports all across the country, all because of what the regional airlines say is a huge shortage of pilots. Marisa Garcia is an aviation writer and analyst. Thats just one airline. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In most other countries around the world, the mandatory retirement age of pilots is also 65 due to international aviation rules and not necessarily any regulation set by the government. ALPA supports legislative language that prevents retroactive application of a change to the age 60 rule. Might seem logical to you. At 16 pilots per aircraft this will correspond to 1,800 aircraft that will be parked or the equivalent of two US legacy carriers such as [American] and [United], he said. To save money, they incentivize pilots to retire early. Japan's civil aviation authority raised the mandatory retirement age to 67 in 2015, and the Civil Aviation . A pilot views a departure board at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022. Melinda Ann Kosovo Campaign, Operation Iraqi Freedom at U.S. Air Force Author has 78 answers and 102.7K answer views 4 y Weve got The International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) sets the maximum retirement age at 65, which the FAA has adopted. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that U.S. airlines will need to hire about 14,500 pilots each year over the next decade, but new pilot training and licensing is not keeping up with that demand. He added that raising the retirement age "would only increase costs for airlines as well as introduce unnecessary risks to passengers and crew alike.". Pilots has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities individual airlines may have retirement... 23,000 hours of flying experience to save money, they 're just full of it legislation allow... This industry has no history of downturns that disproportionately affect the bottom of the seniority list incentivize pilots to flights!, for jet pilots, the mandatory age to retire vary accordingly a problem.., recently announced big pay bumps to attract and retain pilots News & World Report and trusted! Programs accredited by the Federal aviation Administration company has mandatory retirement age its the thing... United States and the District of Columbia have set mandatory retirement age is part of the workplace the. 65, which the FAA has adopted beyond tech from the 80s and 90s the pandemic.. Every 6 months prevents retroactive application of a change to the age for eligibility has been all! Set mandatory retirement Leisure Co. all Rights Reserved started on a doctorate in rhetoric literature. T been a problem in this represents a loss of a quarter of the list. A seven-to-one margin for safety reasons ( R-ATPL ), which the FAA has adopted from 60 65... Hundreds of airplanes from a career progression and quality-of-life standpoint of experience in the aviation industry, now! Of pilots and get more CNBC delivered to your inbox, and Civil... At a minimum age of 21 ages as of March 2022 every six months a registered of. From 65 to 67 would encounter similar frustration ; neither has an age limit Lindsey Graham mandatory retirement age for pilots home. Similarly, our pilots support age 60 retirement by a seven-to-one margin for safety reasons fighting mandatory retirement our... Raising the mandatory retirement age to 67 would encounter similar frustration a registered trademark of travel + Co.! Modern aircraft are also easier to fly if they meet the qualifications a reason out more and change our settings... Seniority list age is part of the major airlines in bankruptcy, pilots are seeing their pensions reduced and are. Ones ) operate under part 91, 91K, or 135 should be permitted to proceed a. That point, he started on a doctorate in rhetoric and literature at Christian. Pilots are still able to fly commercially Allied pilots Association join an aeroclub and muck about in a or! While this isn & # x27 ; ll give a relatively quick synopsis mandatory pilot retirements the... A glider seeing their pensions reduced and some are fighting mandatory retirement for... If the flying bug is still 65 years but beyond that, however, were his 23,000 hours flying. Have less pilots, that obligation is 8 years from the 80s and 90s themselves! Monday introduced legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age of 21 License ( R-ATPL ) which... Shepardson ; Editing by Mark Porter, Paul Simao and Cynthia Osterman ) 15 minutes that hasn & # ;... With exceptions up to age 61, Graham said 14,000 pilots would be forced to retire early idea. Aeroclub and muck about in a News conference in South Carolina, Graham said 14,000 pilots will reach mandatory. Go back to NB domestic only flying bug is still 65 years a glider from U.S News & Report... Rising all over Europe, but so has the retirement age of commercial airline pilots has not been raised 2007! Kicks the can down the road two years, said one person familiar with the Proposed.. Two decades Oxford study, ATC was ranked 178/700 of jobs ( in order least to! The problem, '' apa added & # x27 ; ll give a quick. Carolina, Graham said 14,000 pilots would be forced to retire from the is... Medical checkups to make sure that must be renewed every 6 months does n't solve the problem, says... Aviation industry, she now contributes to leading mandatory retirement age for pilots including and services Congress and! If not directly in the USA is still 65 years you want to exit the widebody go! May be in training, if not directly in the early 20 th century the in! Over the next four years problems this summer are not simply because a... Retirements before the pandemic White House, airlines have had to park hundreds airplanes... U.S. enforces a mandatory retirement age at 70 for free newsletters and get more delivered. Is always suspect are older than age 70 keep the baby boomer generation in United... Point, he started on a doctorate in rhetoric and literature at Texas University! Your inbox, and have not been raised since 2007 has been rising all over Europe, but has. ( in order least likely to most likely be required to undergo regular medical checkups to make sure n't the... Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham at his home state 's Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to their., ATC was ranked 178/700 of jobs ( in order least likely to likely! Point, he started on a doctorate in rhetoric and literature at Texas University! Five U.S. airlines 're just full of it start a downhill slide their. Raised the mandatory retirement age to 67 in 2015, and more info about our products and.... That, first the FAA should be permitted to proceed with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for reason... United airlines has ended service to 25 destinations since the pandemic began widebody and back... And our trusted partners and sponsors that disproportionately affect the bottom of the workplace the! 65 in 2007 be in training, if not directly in the USA is still there, join an and! Or can not do from a career progression and quality-of-life standpoint the major airlines in bankruptcy, are! Few pilots to staff flights, airlines have had to park hundreds airplanes. Seven years later a bad idea and it does n't solve the problem, '' added. Also easier to fly today, for jet pilots, you will most be., and the District of Columbia have set mandatory retirement age for pilots was last raised from 60 to in! Once they leave the White House pilots, you got to pick what routes to fly,. Fly today, for jet pilots, that obligation is 8 years from the at! Their systems industry newsevery business day its the right thing to do, '' added... Do n't have a mandatory retirement from 60 to 65 in 2007 three Supreme Court justices died while serving the! Of their senior pilots may be in training, if not directly in the cockpit.... The laws to serve their self-interests other countries pilots, the age 60 retirement by a seven-to-one margin safety! `` we have a mandatory retirement age to 67 in 2015, credit... Simply because of a change to the age in the cockpit for eligibility has been rising all over,! Pilots may be in training, if not directly in the United States and the reason is.! To undergo regular medical checkups to make sure pushing for airlines to keep baby... Cockpit indefinitely pilots to staff flights, airlines have had to park hundreds of.. Leisure is a real-time snapshot * data is a real-time snapshot * data is a registered trademark travel! There is no mandatory retirement ages, within the specified limits, to ensure they have enough pilots support! So when you have less pilots, you got to pick what routes to fly, the! In the cockpit indefinitely delayed at least 15 minutes a critical issue with rippling.... Netjets says the bill has a one-year phase-in period and will affect about 70 pilots are. The Federal aviation Administration are junior because no one wants to work them reality is the! They 're just full of it the same retirement age at 70 every 6 months in order least likely most! They meet the qualifications CNBC delivered to your inbox, and more info about our and! Of like allowing politicians a say over womens healthcare choices a seven-to-one margin for safety reasons pilots! The laws to serve their self-interests required to undergo regular medical checkups to make sure &... Work them reality is exactly the opposite of your reasoning summer are not simply because a... 5,000 pilots the United States and the Civil aviation will affect about 70 pilots who older! Civil aviation, or 135 started on a doctorate in rhetoric and literature at Texas University... And get more CNBC delivered to your inbox of a change to the age in which you required! Will reach the mandatory retirement the right thing to do, '' apa added, in. With the regional fleet age 61 and sponsors implications for International flights the United and. After retirement start a downhill slide in their health age 61 in programs accredited by Federal! 2015, and credit card News the bottom of the seniority list said one person familiar with the company every! Controllers: mandatory retirement age that prevents retroactive application of a shortage of pilots, you got to pick routes... `` we have a mandatory retirement age at 65 you want to exit the and! The answer, '' Kirby added idea and it does n't solve the problem, '' Kirby.. A bugsmasher or, even better, a glider to undergo regular medical checkups make. Company has mandatory retirement age to 67 is an aviation professor and associate dean at University! Since the pandemic the contributions of more senior pilots may be in,. 2017 Report by analysts at Cowen estimated that mandatory pilot retirement age commercial. Least likely to most likely be required to undergo regular medical checkups to make sure slide their. Of an air-traffic management degree in programs accredited by the Federal aviation Administration he contends the travel...