Originally Posted by
FXLAX
My understanding is that non-121 pilots only require a 2nd class medical. If that is the case, the safety standard is lower. In any case, if this was purely about safety, there wouldn’t be an age limit, there would be a lot more stringent and stricter medical requirements than the current 1st class medical.
It's not purely about safety, it's a tradeoff between safety, practicality and economics. As is every other facet of aviation regulation.
Pilot age is just harder to quantify with science or engineering. Age 60 was not enacted because old guys were crashing airplanes. Age 65 has not resulted in old guys crashing airplanes. Absent that, there's a lot of grey area in this topic.