RELAXATION OF AGE LIMIT OF PILOTS ENGAGED IN AIR TRANSPORT AND ENSUREMENT OF THE HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN AIRLINES

Presented to ICAO's General Assembly by Japanese CAB

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

To address the world-wide shortage of pilots and to achieve further aviation safety, it is important that experienced pilots fly in good health for a long period. While JCAB of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) used to set age limits for commercial pilots to 65 (by the day before his 65th birthday), it decided to raise the age limit to 68 (by the day before his 68th birthday) from April 2015.

This decision was made after consideration of medical and operational aspects of the matter. In addition, in order to create an environment in which commercial pilots are able to work in good health, it is important that the airline companies should ensure maintenance of an excellent health management system. The Standards and guidelines for health management of aircraft crews were constitutedon June 2016. This paper provides background information and brief summary of the policy change.Action:The Assembly is invited to:

a) note the information contained in this paper;

b) exchange information on upper age limit of commercial pilots and the health management system of each airline, which are now being operated, including challenges that could be addressed, including the world-wide shortage of pilots; and

c)encourage States to consider health management system of pilots to achieve further aviation safety.