Following the death of Craig Lenell, the 60-year-old pilot that died Thursday while piloting a Continental Boeing 777 from Brussels to Newark, the public has generated concern over the age limit for pilots. Backed by the speculation-friendly media, the public has brought the age case back; an issue that Congress ruled over not long ago in 2007, as they raised the retirement age from 60 to 65. I have had several friends and family members ask me about the retirement age debate, so I will explain my point of view.
Medical Certification
I’ll start by bringing up the medical standards described by FAR Part 67. For pilots, there are three classes of medical certificates, all issued by an FAA-authorized aviation medical examiner (AME). First Class is designated for airline transport pilots, and this is the class that we’re concerned with at the moment. Note: Graph that was previously available innacurately showed the breakdown of months.
The First Class medical certificate FAR Part 67.101-67.115, for all you out there that own the handbook, lists requirements for the following areas: eye, ear / nose / throat / equilibrium, mental, neurologic, cardiovascular (which I’ll focus on), general medical condition, and discretionary issuance.
Under the cardiovascular standards, there must be no established medical history or clinical diagnoses of any of the following: myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary heart disease that has required treatment / if untreated has been symptomatic or clinically significant, cardiac valve replacement, permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation or heart replacement. Those applying for First Class medical certificates “must demonstrate an absence of myocardial infarction and other clinically significant abnormality on electrocardiographic examination.” In plain English, the cardiovascular area of the examination is fairly stringent. Considering that this checkup is done every 6 months for airline transport pilots, I’d say that the FAA keeps a close eye on pilots and signs of aging.
Age vs. Experience
Airline captains onboard flights have proven themselves to be experienced, and I’m leaning more towards the big airlines, not as much for the regionals (although I must say that regional captains are experienced pilots too). Allow me to bring up US Airways flight 1549 – yes, the plane that landed on the Hudson that Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger flew with First Officer Jeffrey Skiles. Captain Sullenberger is a pilot that I think most people would like to have as their pilot. Why? Well, he’s experienced and he’s proven himself to be a great pilot. How old is he? He’s 58 years old. Pilots gain experience as time moves forward, but reaching the median between age and experience is something the public must be aware of.
Conclusion
The FAA has a good hold on distribution of medical certificates to pilots. I’ve been through the third class check-up, but I know that the first class holds pilots to much higher standards in contrast to the third class. I firmly believe that medical examiners are acutely looking at pilots and their performance during these exams, and they are making good judgements on pilots.
Older pilots are more experienced – there is no argument there. However there is a point in a pilot’s career when experience gets overlapped by age, but I do not believe that is usually above the age of 65. I hate to sound like I’m taking both sides of the argument, but I think a median age (like 62) would be a better retirement age.
What do you think about the pilot retirement age? Is it good as-is at the age of 65, or should it be lowered? Your comments are always welcome.
Southwest Airlines has begun to have flights in and out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport today. It is Southwest’s hopes that they will be able to pick up more business travels. A nice addition for New York travelers is that with Southwest coming to town airfares should begin to drop even more.
