Bill would boost mandatory pilot retirement age from 60 to 65

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/01/25/airlines.pilots.reut/index.html

Bill would boost pilot retirement age
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 Posted: 10:46 AM EST (1546 GMT)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Two senior congressional Republicans reintroduced legislation Monday to raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots by five years to 65.

Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Rep. Jim Gibbons of Nevada said the regulation currently enforced is outdated and changing it over time would save jobs and retain experienced pilots.

"Our nation has hundreds of experienced, skilled, and capable pilots. Unfortunately, they cannot fly for any commercial airline because once they turn 60 they are forced to retire," said Gibbons, a former airline pilot.

Previous attempts to rescind the 44-year-old rule have failed, including one during the last session of Congress by Inhofe and Gibbons.

Absent safety data showing conclusively otherwise, the FAA continues to believe that overall cognitive abilities necessary for being an effective airline pilot may begin to deteriorate at 60.

But some critics have said the rule is an economic tool that benefits airlines because it allows them to replace expensive senior pilots with lower paid ones.<snip>

Beat them off with their canes...

:-)