Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2018 Apr;28(1):1-5.

Work Longer? Medical Aspect of Pilots Older than 65

• Jang J

Abstract

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) amended the upper age limit for commercial pilots in 2006 changing from 60 to 65 years old. Due to lack of skilled pilots, there is an increase in the number of senior pilots in active duty worldwide. Safety concerns are increasing as age of airline pilot increases and efforts are being made to determine whether airline pilots over the age of 60 pose a hazard to aviation safety and whether risk assessment could replace age-based retirement. For aged pilots, incapacitation from medical reasons and gradual performance degradation are the main risk factors decaying safety. Cardiovascular incapacitation, although rare in the cockpit, the risk increases with age, but profiling of risk factor could identify pilots with substantial risk. Normal age-related cognitive changes have minimal impact on gradual performance degradation. If pilot is good above average health, training, and experience, he can fly until after age 65, Relationship between aviation safety and increased accident risk for over-60-year-old pilots has not been fully explored. By far, no study on aircraft safety has shown an increased accident risk for over-60-year-old pilots. With improved aeromedical certification test and adequate performance testing, a gradual increase of the retirement age to approximately age 70 would seem justified. In the future, a longitudinal database focusing on aged pilots should be established to validate medical tests for their ability to predict a pilot's accident risk. Aeromedical decision makers should consider the factors of age, health, and piloting experience and their interaction in the modern flight environment to ensure the maintenance of flight safety in aged airline pilots.

Keyword

Old pilot; Age rule 70