Are these posts the transition from stage 2, anger, to stage 3, bargaining? Progress.
Originally Posted by
Zoomie
90 years ago the age was 60. Also, the life expectancy 90 years ago was in the 60s.
Incorrect. 90 years ago, there was no age limit. The age 60 rule was implemented in 1959.
I'm ambivalent about the change, but it's now almost certain to happen. Why? Because even if the Senate version of the FAA Reauthorization Act doesn't include age 67, the House version does. That will be an issue resolved in conference committee. And I don't see it as likely that age 67 will be removed from the final version.
The reason I state that 67 is likely to happen is for two main reasons: 1) there is a shortage of airline pilots, and 2) the Social Security trust fund is headed toward insolvency - having people work until they're older will extend the trust fund's insolvency date.
On the other side, there's the safety issue. The problem with that card being played is that the accident rate did not spike when 65 was fully implemented. Therefore, one can reasonably extrapolate that going to age 67 won't impose a dire safety threat. And any safety issues should be caught on physicals and check rides.
FAA reauthorization occurs every 5 years. I wouldn't be surprised to see the age change to 70 in the next reauthorization bill.