OPINION: 'Simply waiving the 65-year rule would almost instantly add a significant number of healthy experienced pilots to today’s air transport pilot workforce,' writes Capt. D. Ross Beins.
Today, the FAA is totally opposed to using reasonable, logical and proven current medical information to determine actual medical health of airmen over 65 years of age.
Initially, airline pilots had to retire at 60. Five decades later the FAA finally succumbed to public pressure and reluctantly raised the age limit to the current 65. Having two pilots in the cockpit who are required to have one company and two FAA physical exams each year has been proven to be safe by the uneventful safe landings which have been made by the unaffected pilot in several cockpit health-related incidents.
I retired as a Captain for a major airline after 28 years of service having never injured a passenger or caused damage to a commercial airliner. At my current age of 84, I still have a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement and fly airplanes privately. Until two years ago, I held and utilized a Commercial Driver’s License to drive tour buses, large RV’s and semi-trucks and rode a large motorcycle more than 125,000 miles.
Redefining antiquated FAA medical standards and rescinding disqualification based on age would be a large step forward in solving the current lack of air transport pilots.
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