Would Allowing Airline Pilots To Fly Until 67 Be a Mistake?

A veteran airline pilot says the ‘Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act’ may create more problems than it solves.

Thursday, August 04, 2022 at 06:56 AM ET

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Older airline pilots experience more medical issues that don’t necessarily challenge their daily lives but may keep them out of the cockpit, says veteran airline pilot Les Abend. [Photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The "Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act" proposes raising the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 to address the current pilot shortage and flight disruptions.
The article argues this solution is problematic due to older pilots experiencing more medical issues and international regulations restricting pilots over 65 from flying globally, creating significant operational and scheduling complexities.
Raising the retirement age would also trigger costly and complex transition training for multiple tiers of pilots, further straining an already bottlenecked airline training infrastructure.
The author suggests the real issue is airlines' failure to anticipate post-pandemic demand and their inadequate recovery strategies, proposing a long-term solution lies in creating better pathways for new pilots to gain experience.

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No doubt, the flying public is frustrated with enduring the extraordinary volume of cancellations and flight delays. Mainstream media has certainly shone a spotlight on the situation, giving additional anxiety to those who are still formulating their travel plans.

Fingers have pointed at the “pilot shortage,” as a major factor. In that regard, on July 25, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act,” which would increase the mandatory airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.