Unicornpilot

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.

Other key stakeholders included pilot associations, medical societies, HEMS, and operators of both fixed & rotary wing aircraft.
ICAO's Working Group is scheduled to meet this month to finalize the new Commercial Air Transport (CAT) worldwide pilot age limit standards, the specific increase to the mandatory pilot retirement age, they will finalize the new medical testing requirements, and decide on the exact reduction to the FTL for those pilots over age 65.
Specifically:

· 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 to most likely age 68.

To access the ICAO's website to read their CAT pilot retirement age limit information click here and then click https://www.icao.int/Search/pages/re...tirement%20age on ASMA-ICAO Meeting. Slides 30, 31, & 32 discuss the conclusions and the way forward.

Or if you prefer to go directly to the presentation click https://www.icao.int/safety/aviation...%20Study_c.pdf to review the PowerPoint presentation and read slides 30, 31, & 32 for the Readers Digest version.

Finally, I believe 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, was the final catalyst for am international regulatory decision to increase the mandatory CAT pilot retirement age above 65 -- due to a worldwide shortage of qualified pilots.

Unicornpilot

American Airlines' Flight Information Manual, Chapter 18, page 18-42, the new revision created a new section for the scheduling requirements for pilots age 65 and older.

Further reports indicate Delta Air lines will dramatically slow down pilot hiring in 2020 because of the pending increase in the mandatory commercial air transport pilot (CAT) retirement age.

Qotsaautopilot

This meeting was 7 months ago. Also in the U.S. it requires congress to change the law. They can’t agree on what color the sky is these days.

We pushed it 5 years and now that we are finally going to catch up we are going to push it another 3 years? Then what? Make it 75 so we can get past the big retirement bubble.

Must be nice for those guys at the top to get there with everyone retiring at 60 then live at the top forever.

ShyGuy

[QUOTE=Qotsaautopilot;2948857]This meeting was 7 months ago. Also in the U.S. it requires congress to change the law. They can’t agree on what color the sky is these days.

We pushed it 5 years and now that we are finally going to catch up we are going to push it another 3 years? Then what? Make it 75 so we can get past the big retirement bubble.

Must be nice for those guys at the top to get there with everyone retiring at 60 then live at the top forever.

So? What about those who spent an additional 5 yrs in the right seat of the RJ because of age 65?

Unicornpilot

On March 18-19 ICAO, IATA, the FAA, EASA, and about 60 other participants met in Cologne, Germany to discuss medical findings and the Working Group's desire to increase the mandatory retirement pilot age due the worldwide shortage and lack of experience of new pilots.

The parties met again in Las Vegas on May 7, 2019 and the Working Group was tasked to have the Best Intervention Strategy (BIS) completed for Working Group and its Advisory Bodies by October 31, 2019.

This (BIS) strategy would include:

· 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.

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

· Further feedback from the advisory bodies including the FAA on the way forward.

ICAO, IATA (International Air Transport Association lobby group for evey major airline in the world), the European Union's EASA, the U.S. FAA, China CAA, Japan CAA, and New Zealand CAA all support the group.

It is expected the worldwide regulatory guidance, new medical standards, and U.S. federal law change authorized by Congress will all simultaneously occur in the beginning of 2020.

The new FAR will be: 14 CFR Part 121.383, Amendment HR 4343, FAA INFO 08001.

The ICAO regulation will be ICAO Annex 1, Para 2.11.10.1 and ICAO Annex 1, Amendment 167.

Unicornpilot

Pilots interested in the upcoming changes to the medical standards for CAT pilots over age 65 and the new regulatory guidance should click on this link:

https://www.icao.int/safety/aviation...%20Study_c.pdf

Slide 30, 31, & 32 provides more guidance on the regulatory changes for pilots flying over age 65 starting in 2020.

The Flight Time (FTL) and Flight Duty Limits (FDL) will be a reduction of the maximum monthly/yearly FTL to 80% of the maximum allowed for pilots over 65 performing multi pilot ops. For U.S. pilots operating FAR Part 121 flights with FAR Part 117 FTL & FDL limits, aviators will be permitted to fly no more than 80 block hours in a rolling 672-hour period previously introduced under FAR 117.23B1 and no more than 800 block hours per rolling year introduced under FAR 117.23B2.

senecacaptain

back to bed. wake me when this "simultaneous action" occurs

Andy

This would be awesome! More years for me to collect long term disability before I get a social security check. Or can I collect both simultaneously?

This looks like a push from EASA, not ICAO. Wake me when Dr Ansa Jordaan publishes anything in favor of an age increase. Her predecessor, Dr Anthony Evans, published more than a few documents in favor of an age increase from 60. Dr Jordaan has been silent on any age increase since taking over in 2015.

Al Czervik

..............

sailingfun

Delta has increased their hiring plans for 2020 and will hire at or near the maximum rate all year. They are locking down expensive off site simulators to support hiring in excess of 100 per month. Your info is bad.