Airline Pilots Flying to Age 67?

The unanticipated consequences of hiring incentives.

Tuesday, March 07, 2023 at 11:29 AM ET

Verified

Mandatory retirement age for airline pilots didn’t exist until March 1960, when it became a federal aviation regulation. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Legislation proposing to extend the mandatory airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 is criticized as counterproductive and likely to create more problems than it solves.
Extending the retirement age would lead to increased operational inefficiencies due to higher sick leave rates among older pilots, international flight restrictions, and complex scheduling and training challenges.
The article argues that historical pilot retirement ages were arbitrary, and actual solutions to the pilot shortage should focus on incentivizing new pilots and creating programs to bridge the experience gap between flight school and ATP certification.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Understandably, the flying public has become frustrated with the frequent delays and cancellations now associated with the anxiousness of airline travel. The post-pandemic pent-up travel demand is the primary catalyst. Although many factors are involved, the so-called “pilot shortage” has been showcased as a significant culprit.

Responding to their constituents’ angst, Republicans Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Rep. Chip Roy of Texas introduced the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act” on July 25, which would extend the mandatory airline pilot age from 65 to 67. Although well-intended, the legislation would create more problems than it would solve. It shouldn’t even be considered a Band-Aid.