From http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngog...-does-airline-pilot-age-rule-need-revisiting/
In-Flight Heart Attack Risk: Does Airline Pilot Age Rule Need Revisiting?
Airline pilots and safety investigators I’ve spoken with thought the same thing when they first saw news reports that a United Airlines Captain had suffered a heart attack on a flight from Houston to Seattle, which made an emergency landing in Boise, Idaho. First, of course, the hope that the pilot would be alright (unfortunately he later died). Second, the hope that he was not over age 60, which could re-ignite a long, fought battle over the age at which airline pilots have to stop flying.
Most fliers, even frequent fliers, are not aware of the battle that raged over the so-called age-60 rule which forced many an excellent pilot – physically, as well as mentally – from our nation’s airline cockpits solely by virtue of turning 60. Since the rule was first enacted by the FAA in 1959, until it was changed by an act of Congress in 2007 to age 65, the arbitrary cut-off at age 60 provoked intense debate among airlines, unions representing pilots, government regulatory agencies and the medical establishment.
The pilot of United Flight 1603 was indeed over age 60. News reports listed his age as 63. And some media reports have already raised the possibility that his age may cause regulatory agencies to take another look at the age rule. I hope that isn’t the case. The age 60 rule was always an arbitrary cut-off and kept many of the most experienced pilots from flying. It took years to get Congress to pass The Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act. The FAA supported the act and stated in a press release at the time that it welcomed passage of the law because it enabled “some of the most experienced pilots to keep flying.” The law today allows both airline pilots to be over age 60 on domestic flights; international flights, in compliance with standards set by ICAO, require one pilot to be under the age of 60.
Airline pilots are subjected to some of the most rigorous medical requirements of any profession. They are required to take physicals every 12 months until age 40 and then every 6 months. Those physicals require electrocardiograms at age 35 and every year after age 40. The number of medical in-flight emergencies involving airline pilots is miniscule – both before and after the change to the age rule in 2007. This incident should not be the basis for any re-visiting of the age rule. However, there should be a rigorous look at whether any medical signs were missed during this particular pilot’s last exam.
In-Flight Heart Attack Risk: Does Airline Pilot Age Rule Need Revisiting?
Airline pilots and safety investigators I’ve spoken with thought the same thing when they first saw news reports that a United Airlines Captain had suffered a heart attack on a flight from Houston to Seattle, which made an emergency landing in Boise, Idaho. First, of course, the hope that the pilot would be alright (unfortunately he later died). Second, the hope that he was not over age 60, which could re-ignite a long, fought battle over the age at which airline pilots have to stop flying.
Most fliers, even frequent fliers, are not aware of the battle that raged over the so-called age-60 rule which forced many an excellent pilot – physically, as well as mentally – from our nation’s airline cockpits solely by virtue of turning 60. Since the rule was first enacted by the FAA in 1959, until it was changed by an act of Congress in 2007 to age 65, the arbitrary cut-off at age 60 provoked intense debate among airlines, unions representing pilots, government regulatory agencies and the medical establishment.
The pilot of United Flight 1603 was indeed over age 60. News reports listed his age as 63. And some media reports have already raised the possibility that his age may cause regulatory agencies to take another look at the age rule. I hope that isn’t the case. The age 60 rule was always an arbitrary cut-off and kept many of the most experienced pilots from flying. It took years to get Congress to pass The Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act. The FAA supported the act and stated in a press release at the time that it welcomed passage of the law because it enabled “some of the most experienced pilots to keep flying.” The law today allows both airline pilots to be over age 60 on domestic flights; international flights, in compliance with standards set by ICAO, require one pilot to be under the age of 60.
Airline pilots are subjected to some of the most rigorous medical requirements of any profession. They are required to take physicals every 12 months until age 40 and then every 6 months. Those physicals require electrocardiograms at age 35 and every year after age 40. The number of medical in-flight emergencies involving airline pilots is miniscule – both before and after the change to the age rule in 2007. This incident should not be the basis for any re-visiting of the age rule. However, there should be a rigorous look at whether any medical signs were missed during this particular pilot’s last exam.
