If you thought the initial updates from LEPF/EPAS were out of touch, you’ll love this one. A complete fabrication of wishful thinking. ICAO doesn’t want an age change, the secretariat spoke against it. They will not make a move without data and standards. But let’s make 2 pages or word salad to inspired the 64 year olds and keep the $ coming.
EPAS ICAO ASSEMBLY UPDATE – MONTREAL
The 42nd ICAO Assembly has confirmed progress and momentum toward raising the international pilot retirement age. Working Paper 349 (WP349), sponsored by IATA, has been formally accepted and advanced to the ICAO Council for action. This is a clear win and positions us for the decisive next phase.
Current Status
1. WP349 is accepted and advancing.
2. A majority of states support raising the age, with no negative evidence presented (ICAO WP106, 2024; ICAO Assembly Technical Commission Summary, 2025).
3. WP291 on medical reporting complements WP349 but does not delay it (ICAO WP291, 2025).
4. The ICAO Council will decide. This 36-member body is divided into:
◦ Part I – Chief Importance in Air Transport (10): Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States (ICAO Council States, 2025).
◦ Part II – Major Contributors (12): Argentina, Colombia, Denmark, Egypt, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland (ICAO Council States, 2025).
◦ Part III – Geographic Representation (14): Africa, Latin America, Asia, Middle East (ICAO Council Elections, 2025).
And it is this group of ten, led by the United States, that is the driving force in ICAO decision-making. These members will guide ICAO policy for the next three years. Six of the Part I states have already voiced support for raising the age (ICAO WP106, 2024; ICAO Assembly Floor Debate Report, 2025).
Why This Matters
• Evidence is established. Pilots over 65 already fly millions of hours safely worldwide (GAO Report, 2009; Transport Canada, 2024). Training centers and carriers validate this daily.
• Global alignment is building. Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and others already operate safely with pilots over 65 (EASA, 2019; Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, 2023).
• U.S. leadership is decisive. Once the U.S. Ambassador to ICAO is confirmed, the United States can move this to completion (Senate Nomination Records, 2025).
• ALPA put the “WHO in it.” In pandering to younger, less experienced pilots and those it seeks to protect politically, ALPA demanded that the “who” be considered. But that demand exposes the truth: the real “who” in this debate are the seasoned aviators who have the strongest safety record in the industry.
◦ FAA: requires six-month medical renewals and recurrent simulator checks for older pilots (FAA, 2025).
◦ EASA: review of European operations found no increase in accidents after raising the age limit (EASA, 2019).
◦ Canada: already permits airline pilots to fly past 65 with no safety issues (Transport Canada, 2024).
◦ Boeing and Airbus: performance data from advanced training centers confirm that older pilots fly safely and reliably (Boeing Training Data, 2023; Airbus Flight Training Report, 2023).
◦ Public Support: AARP, with 55 million members, and AMAC, with 4 million members, have endorsed raising the age (AARP House Letter, 2023; AMAC Policy Statement, 2024).
• ALPA’s strategy has turned against its own. By demanding new data and procedures, ALPA is building a process that will ultimately harm the very group it claims to protect—its younger, less experienced pilots. By turning a safety issue into a populist campaign strategy, the current leadership risks long-term damage to these “protected” groups in exchange for short-term political gain. For decades, ALPA prided itself on defending all its members. Today, this leadership team has abandoned fairness, sacrificed unity, and prioritized re-election over representation.
Path Forward
The Assembly outcome was expected: WP349 alive, accepted, and in motion. The issue is no longer whether to raise the age, but how quickly. EPAS will press for expediency by:
• Delivering existing data through proper ICAO channels (ICAO Council Guidelines, 2024).
• Reinforcing that no new studies are needed; the safety record is already established (GAO Report, 2009).
• Supporting U.S. and allied leadership in the Council phase (DOT, 2025).
Conclusion
The global direction is set: the retirement age will rise. With majority support established, WP349 advancing, and U.S. leadership soon in place, the focus now is speed.
Bottom line: This is a win. The path is open, the majority is with us, and the timeline is in sight.
EPAS Leadership Team