It is based on health. However, at 65 the cards are against you - you are closer to the end - natural progression from cradle to grave - than you were at 20.

-LAFF

Ok look at a health insurance quote. ehealthinsurance
Age 60 cheapest premium is $169.77,
Age 55 cheapest premium is $127.20
Age 50 cheapest premium is $104.33
Age 40 cheapest premium is $60.65
Age 30 cheapest premium is $41.11.
Age 23 cheapest premium is $38.47.
FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE at age 60 than at age 30.


From 25- 44 the death rate per 100,000 people is 177.8
From 45- 64 the death rate per 100,000 people is 708

FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE.

This includes accidents, diseases, etc....

The younger group is more likely to die in a car accident, but cars are the #3 killer of 45-64.
Rate of accident deaths for 25-44 = 31.7
Rate of accidents deaths for 45-65 = 30.4

Rate of death from heart disease 25-44 = 19.4
Rate of death from heart disease 45-65 = 190.8

hmmmmmm

Copied from AVSIG.com
 

From an unknown source:

FocusFAA, the FAA’s internal newsletter, says the online publication
of the report of a committee looking at the contentious mandatory
retirement of airline pilots at age 60 means FAA Administrator Marion
Blakey is close to making a decision. And if we're reading between
the lines correctly, it would appear Blakey is prepared to fall in
line with other members of the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) and allow pilots to keep flying until age 65 as
long as there's another pilot younger than 60 in the cockpit with
them. However, the newsletter says Blakey might need some legislative
help to shield the government from a rash of lawsuits that could
result from the move. The committee, which considered 18,000 comments
from 5,500 people, recommended that the rule not be applied
retroactively, meaning those who reach 60 before it goes into effect
will not be allowed to get their jobs back. The newsletter says that
if Blakey lacks the clout, "federal legislation might be required to
protect companies and unions from lawsuits that might arise if pilots
older than 60 claim age discrimination or other employment issues."
There was no speculation when Blakey might make her move.

--------------------

Link to the actual article:

http://employees.faa.gov/news/focusfaa/story.cfm?storyId=7984

For what it's worth...the article is dated January 16, 2007.

So Andy, you think my comment was an insult? Why don't you let me know which part wasn't factual.

Wow, good thing there is nobody speculating.

Just a bunch of wishful thinking on the pro-change crowd's part.

If the director is worried about potential liabilities I doubt seriously that she would just change the rule.

That would mean Congress would have to act.

When was the last time Congress was able to get anything done?

Their own pay raise.

They sure seem to handle that just fine :mad:

Latest rumor:

Reports out of Washington, D.C. point to a January
30 FAA NPRM on raising the pilot retirement age. A publish date
would come later in the Fall.

FYI, here are the different versions of "Applicability" from the 109th and 110th Congress. The sentences in red in the 109th version are the ones that were added in the 110th version...

109th Congress
(b) APPLICABILITY- The modification of the Federal Aviation Administration regulations under subsection (a) shall not provide the basis for a claim of seniority under any labor agreement in effect between a recognized bargaining unit for pilots and an air carrier engaged in operations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, made by any pilot[a person who was a pilot and who attained 60 years of age before the effective date described in subsection (e)] seeking reemployment by such air carrier following the pilot's previous termination or cessation of employment [or promotion or transfer to another position with such air carrier] as required by section 121.323(c), title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as that section was in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

110th Congress
(c) Applicability- The provisions of subsection (a) shall not provide a basis for a claim of seniority under any labor agreement in effect between a recognized bargaining unit for pilots and an air carrier engaged in operations under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, that is made by a person who was a pilot and who attained 60 years of age before the effective date described in subsection (e) and is seeking a position as a pilot with such air carrier following that person's termination or cessation of employment or promotion or transfer to another position with such air carrier pursuant to section 121.383(c) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the day before the effective date described in subsection (e).