RELAXATION OF AGE LIMIT OF PILOTS ENGAGED IN AIR TRANSPORT AND ENSUREMENT OF THE HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN AIRLINES

Presented to ICAO's General Assembly by Japanese CAB

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

To address the world-wide shortage of pilots and to achieve further aviation safety, it is important that experienced pilots fly in good health for a long period. While JCAB of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) used to set age limits for commercial pilots to 65 (by the day before his 65th birthday), it decided to raise the age limit to 68 (by the day before his 68th birthday) from April 2015.

This decision was made after consideration of medical and operational aspects of the matter. In addition, in order to create an environment in which commercial pilots are able to work in good health, it is important that the airline companies should ensure maintenance of an excellent health management system. The Standards and guidelines for health management of aircraft crews were constitutedon June 2016. This paper provides background information and brief summary of the policy change.Action:The Assembly is invited to:

a) note the information contained in this paper;

b) exchange information on upper age limit of commercial pilots and the health management system of each airline, which are now being operated, including challenges that could be addressed, including the world-wide shortage of pilots; and

c)encourage States to consider health management system of pilots to achieve further aviation safety.

The International Civil Air Organization (ICAO) recently published on their website the proposed Commercial Air Transport (CAT) medical standards review and Flight Time and Duty Period Limits (FTL) for pilots over age 65.

These new standards were introduced at the follow-on international ICAO/EASA Pilots’ Age Limit Increase Workshop was held on May 7, 2019.

The meetings had more than 60 participants with more than 25 nationalities represented. Key participants and sponsors included the ICAO, the IATA, the European Union's EASA, the U.S. FAA, China CAA, Japan CAA, New Zealand CAA; as well as leaders from other countries.


· An increase in the pilot age limit above 65 for multi pilot CAT operations; however, pilots flying over age 65 will require additional risk-mitigation measures (aeromedical testing). These measures will likely include testing to support an aeromedical decision on the applicant’s fitness on an individual basis, which must be imposed. These measures could include an ophthalmologist examination, auditory or hearing testing, cardiovascular/lipid testing (bloodwork), and cognitive testing (additional checkride) for those pilots who conduct CAT flying over age 65 (for U.S. pilots these tests will be conducted in addition to FAA Class I certificate requirements).

· A reduction of the maximum monthly/yearly FTL to 80% of the maximum allowed for pilots over 65 performing CAT multi pilot operations (see presentation).

At the October meeting the parties will consider a final resolution to include (see presentation):

· Development of options based on the feedback from the Workshop and Medical Examiner Group (MEG), etc.

· The parties will work closely with ICAO and the International Authorities on the future steps to (simultaneously) coordinate (worldwide) actions.

· EASA high-level decision - Impact assessment will be consulted with EASA Advisory Bodies.

· Further feedback from the advisory bodies on the way forward.
In conclusion, I have been told by a top ranking official directly responsible for the new medical standards and regulations that a final decision has not yet been made. However, a Working Group representative told me it is expected that the final high-level decision following consultation and the final regulatory activities in congruence with the decision is expected to be completed with new/older mandatory retirement age to be implemented by the end of 2019 or early 2020.

These new standards and regulations will authorize CAT multi engine pilots to be permitted to fly over 65 most likely to age 68.

To access the ICAO's website to read their CAT pilot retirement age limit information click https://www.icao.int/safety/aviation...%20Study_c.pdf.

Slides 30, 31, & 32 discuss the conclusions and the way forward.

To final action that has mov3d regulators forward to change the mandatory age requirement was the industry's revelation that both the Lions Air and Ethiopian Airlines accidents could have been prevented, by having more experienced pilots in the cockpits. These accidents were the final catalyst for an international regulatory decision to increase the mandatory CAT pilot retirement age above 65 -- due to a worldwide shortage of qualified pilots.

The ICAO and FAA approval of increasing the mandatory CAT pilot retirement to to 68 is expected in early 2020 with simultaneous regulatory action by the U.S. Congress and President.

Downloaded a zip file from links from the pages you posted. There are 16 files in there and quite a few recommend keeping it age 65. The final one is from EASA which also recommends keeping it at age 65, thought the final decision has not been made. I'd expect to see it upheld, but who knows...time will tell.

No you're lying.

That will not happen in the US without some regulatory churn and debate.

Oh snap. He's upgraded his rhetoric. Congress AND President. Simultaneously at that.

You guys are being trolled, and the troll is enjoying it.

Expert-level.

Best post in the entire thread!

8 posts, clearly a troller. That said, plenty of people would blindly take his posts and run all over telling people age 67 is coming...reference FB lol.