Originally Posted by mooneymite

Part 121 sets age 65 as the limit for getting hired. This rule is not based on anything except years since birth. There are pilots flying under parts 91K, 135, and certainly 91 who have no trouble passing their first class physical, or their proficiency checks well beyond age 65. A fractional's union recently published a breakout by age that showed about 250 of their pilots in the age 65-80 bracket; 79 of those were over 70. These old guys are flying the rigorous fractional schedules of 7,or 8 day trips and 14 hour duty days. Part 121 trips would be a walk in the park for them, but they are locked out by the age 65 law.

So, if US law permits discrimination purely on the basis of age, why can't airlines discriminate based on age? Why would anyone object to age discrimination when it's enshrined in the regs? I believe that physically, a pilot declines rapidly after age 29. (Boy, could I tell you some stories about the screw-ups by pilots over 30!) In the interest of safety, airlines should not be permitted to even interview anyone over 27. Mandatory retirement should be set at age 35 regardless of ability, or health.

That's how to create a pilot shortage!

Let's give the junior guys a chance to move up before they're forced out at 35!