Originally Posted by
Andy
WOW! There were SO MANY different people and groups advocating a maximum age limit. Perhaps it was the letter from Rev Hesburgh (the President of Notre Dame University) to Quesada, recommending a maximum age of 50 that was THE causal event?
Or perhaps it was the medical committees which recommended maximum retirement ages in the mid/late 50s?
Or perhaps it was the Naval admiral (flight surgeon) who recommended a maximum age of 50?
There was a call from many more people than CR Smith for the change.
No Andy, it was CR Smith reaching out requesting support for the change. Contrary to your previous assertion CR Smith was the force behind the change. Yes, there were those that were concerned about age 60+ pilots checking out in these new jets. These were guys that had started in the Ford Trimotors, Curtis Condors, before airlines actually flew passengers. Today the pilot age 60 has 18-20,000+ in jets. ICAO has found that there is no safety issue. The data suggests that it in fact the older age group has the lowest accident/incident rate.