Many aviation experts don't doubt that some airline pilots would be able to continue flying safely after turning 65, but they say, at best, it's only a short-term fix. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. "This is not a solution to the pilot-supply issue," says Elizabeth Bjerke, a pilot, aviation professor and associate dean at the University of North Dakota. "And as early retirements increase, this number will grow providing even more relief.". "We have a pilot shortage and those who say we don't, well, they're just full of it. These are your words. If its not on a platter, they arent interested. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. That killed inflation and the economy (airline furloughs) and we entered a recession. No rational CEO would want to be on the hook for that. It seems sadly we expect to much. That will not solve the core issue, because more pilots are leaving then entering and I really do not see one damn thing in place to fix that problem. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also opposes the change. Then theres the pathetic pay. That was from my last two facilities, ORD and BNA. Im against encouraging and making it easier for the masses to become airline pilots. This is expected to address the issue to some extent. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) also wants to increase the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, which would keep older pilots up in the air for several more years than is currently allowed. The Allied Pilots Association, which represents 12,000 pilots of American Airlines, had commissioned an outside polling firm to survey U.S. adults on the issue of pilot retirement age. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. The Regional Airline Association says its member airlines, including SkyWest, Republic, Envoy, Endeavor, and Mesa, which fly regional routes on behalf of the big legacy carriers such as American Eagle, Delta Shuttle and United Express, are not cutting service to these smaller airports because they want to, but because they don't have enough pilots to staff the flights. Two people familiar with the proposed legislation confirmed that Graham is in the process of building support among his colleagues in Congress before . To suggest their is no data on safety for +65 Part 121 operations simply means ICAO and the FAA have done nothing to research the safety statistics that are available in those countries. The International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) sets the maximum retirement age at 65, which the FAA has adopted. Meanwhile, nearly 14,000 qualified U.S. pilots will be forced to retire due to the federal mandatory pilot retirement age over the next five years. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and fellow lawmakers are set to introduce legislation aimed at increasing the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. "Other countries allow people to fly to 67 and beyond. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. The move to increase . During the next two years, some 5000 pilots will age out at the mandatory age of 65. Proposal to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67. I feel slightly better about what I thought I was remembering anyhow. I hope people are reading the news as the accident and incident numbers slowly increase. is a senior aviation reporter at TPG who focuses on the operational side of the airline industry. My thoughts regarding the topic are exactly the same as yours. Rep. The reason for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to potentially increase the mandated retirement age for domestic commercial pilots to 67 years old from 65 years, however, was rooted . A group of Republicans in Congress on Monday proposed legislation to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65, in a bid to address an airline industry staff shortage. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Currently, the mandatory retirement age in the USA is still 65 years. Civil Service Retirement System Offset ( CSRS Offset) is a version of CSRS established for employees who: Became subject to Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance ( OASDI) taxes. Actually learning the material, passing tests and check rides where they have to perform and answer questions correctly, then grind through obtaining hours of experience, all with the risk of not being hired or making a mistake and having the doors all close? The annual airline fee statement credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. If we have another cycle like that, that will take care of the pilot shortage. "Results so far indicate that an overwhelming majority of Americans have serious safety concerns about any increase in the retirement age and favor further study. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis. In the U.S., the retirement age for different aviation workers can range from 55 to 65, depending on the airline. Whether you believe the "looming pilot shortage" is real or not, according to Washington insiders, the FAA has no plans to increase pilot retirement age. Abolish all age limits and ratings. DePete and ALPA's national leaders have long denied there is a pilot shortage an assertion many in the industry disagree with. . 0900 - 1700 Eastern Time Monday - Friday (generally), CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR AIRPARTS OR AIRCRAFT, Inventory Management Best Practices for the Aircraft and Spare Parts Industry, Looming Pilot Shortage vs Aircraft Mechanics Shortage, Trust Building and Transparency in the Aviation Marketplace. I would just like to see some other criteria (than age).. Visit https://www . So, again, what looks like a short-term fix is going to have long lasting impacts on the pilot supply because we need qualified flight instructors to train that next generation.". On the other end of the experience spectrum, earlier this week it was reported that legislation could soon be introduced to raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 65 to 67. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Exactly. At least one lawmaker is said to be considering legislation that could raise the federally-mandated retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to 67 or higher to extend aviators' time in the skies. You are eligible for voluntary retirement with an immediate annuity and no reductions for age if you: *Special retirement provisions apply to Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, and Air Traffic Controllers for early retirement if certain occupation criteria are met. By 2029, not a single baby boomer will be able to . The biggest issue with raising the age is the international scheduling impact it would have on airlines unless or until other countries agreed to change their age limits as well. Regional airline Republic Airways asked the FAA in April for permission to hire pilots from its training academy with 750 hours instead of 1,500. . Regional airlines are experiencing significant attrition, with pilots leaving faster than new pilots can get hired and trained. The two primary pilot unions in the U.S. have come out strongly against a reported plan by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to introduce a bill that would raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots . Yea. As aviation safety instructor Michael Barr says. Yet the idea is on the table. Legislation has been introduced under S. 4607 and H.R. AvWeb is a cesspool of ignorant, racist, misogynist claptrap. Its just a term ignorant people throw out whenever they hear or read something they disagree with. To regularize airline services FAA has decided to increase the retirement age from 65 to 67 years. But no! "Under this legislation, approximately 5,000 pilots would have the opportunity to continue to fly over the next two years, and in turn, help keep communities connected to the air transportation system," Remos said. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. On January 30, 2007, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the federal agency will propose amending Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) to raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots who fly for Part 121 scheduled air carriers from age 60 to age 65. Are there any countries that refuse air carrier international fights with a PIC older than age 65? How many pilots took an early out package during Covid allowing them to retire years before they would turn 65? We offer the magic $15 an hour at a minimum, we have the health insurance, paid vacation, we reimburse for education, we train. "To save money, they incentivized pilots to retire early and they never started training the pilots that would fill those seats," Tajer said. Your spouse, children, or former spouse may get Survivor Annuity benefits if you die while subject to CSRS deductions after completing at least 18 months of creditable civilian service. We just dont have enough pilots over time to keep the skies working the way they should, Graham, who is 67 himself, said at a press conference. Dennis Tajer, a 737 pilot for American Airlines and spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association. Its meant to immediately bring a person to heel. I want dedication. JetBlue captain grounded after final flight with his son as first officer, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. " In the next two years, 5,000 . Im glad I dont have to deal with that nonsense where I am at now. About 5,773 pilots a year are hitting the age of 65, when the Federal Aviation Administration mandates retirement for commercial airline pilots. Theres a pilot shortage until there isnt. Why must you!! You are eligible for a special Air Traffic Controller Retirement if you: Your annuity is computed similarly to regular retirement but may not be less than 50 percent of your average pay, assuming that your contributions are in the retirement fund. On March 18-19 ICAO, IATA, the FAA, EASA, and about 60 other participants met in Cologne, Germany to discuss medical findings and the Working Group's desire to increase the mandatory retirement pilot age due the worldwide shortage and lack of experience of new pilots. I was a 68 hire and is where myself and a few others I worked with got to drool if we wished to do so. What if they dont make it? This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. This will certainly have much further-reaching implications . But the shift would unnecessarily displace less senior pilots who've typically flown domestically by their older counterparts, Mark explained. Under the new rules, pilots between ages 64 and 67 may only operate up to 80 hours monthly, and must fly with . In the House, Rep.Chip Royplans to introduce a companion bill on Wednesday. Fly all night? ", "We're suffering because of this," Graham added. Safety remains the groups' top priority. As the country's pilot shortage fuels flight cuts, Sen. Lindsey Graham is introducing legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots to 67 from 65. Joe DePete said in a statement. I flew my last B777 flight as a 68 year old and I believe at the time I was the oldest Part 121 B777 pilot probably in the world. How is the current Secretary of Transportation a Marxist? There's already a shortage of flight instructors, Bjerke says, so losing the current pipeline of flight instructors to the airlines "would be detrimental to how many students we could bring into our aviation program. All those things people are whining about yet we cannot get anyone to work. When asked recently about increasing the mandatory retirement age, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said he doesn't think it's a solution, telling CNBC that "at United, of our age 64 pilots, 36% of them are unavailable to fly on a given day for sick, short-term or long-term medical" reasons. Earlier in the year, Delta Air Lines stopped requiring four-year college degrees for its pilots, joining other airlines. I guess anyone that says something you disagree with must be a racist. The "Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act" would also require pilots over the age of 65 to maintain a first-class medical certification that needs to be renewed every six months. ALPA strongly opposes this proposed legislation as there is no reason to change the retirement age today and doing so would only increase costs for airlines as well as introduce unnecessary risks to passengers and crew alike.. Reach into the flight schools and support them with resources to keep CFIs from departing for the airlines with the airlines extra bonus money.. And, it ignores half of the problem. Additionally, pilots who are born in 1960 or later will not qualify for full social security benefits until the age of 67 (two years after their mandatory . A commercial pilot argues that raising the mandatory retirement age for pilots to 67 could create more chaos for airlines and contribute to further flight delays and cancelations. David Schaper/NPR He points out that even though the airlines received $50 billion in taxpayer funding to keep employees on the payroll during the pandemic, many of them gave pilots generous early retirement packages, including partial pay, benefits and other enticements. By the way, the inflationary cycle which I remember very well, started under Nixon around 1971 with wage and price controls; continued under Gerald Ford, WIN Whip Inflation Now! (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images), "The downside to this is that its going tocause chaos, even more chaos atthe airlines because we areseeing that the more senior pilotsthat would be retiring, thatwould be affected by this 67rule, are usually pilots that areflying internationally, not justdomestically here in the states," Mark said. The retirement age in aviation depends on a variety of factors, including the type of job and the particular airline. Really doubt these will pass into law. The airlines blame the chronic delays and cancellations, in part, on a shortage of staff, and especially of pilots, which gets magnified in times of bad weather or other operational problems. . Now, scratching my head. Requires air carriers to continue using pilot training and qualification programs approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). If you want to fix the problem you need to start at the roots. The legislation would require pilots over 65 to maintain a first-class medical certification, which would need to . Excerpt from the age 56 retirement rule. And Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed such concerns recently on Fox News Sunday. Because the international mandatory retirement age for pilots is also 65, if the age was raised in the United States, pilots 65 or older would no longer be allowed to fly overseas. There is a mandatory retirement age of 56. By the way, I was supposed to go to work for United in the late Summer of 1979. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS He contends the air travel problems this summer are not simply because of a shortage of pilots. Find the right card for you. The current pilot shortage is causing flights to be dropped across the country. The FAA claimed that it was . Problem is we drug test, we expect them to be on time and to work, we expect them to be there every day unless they are sick. Pilot hero Jeff Skiles, first officer on US Airways Flight 1549, which landed in the Hudson River 13 years ago Saturday, sees a simple solution to the pilot shortage. The EEOC supported a FAA proposal to raise the pilot retirement age from 60 to 65 as an . Ghost Inventory Stagnating Sales: How to prevent a Phantom Inventory? Pilot retirement age increase. Part of it is the younger folks dont seem much interested in this business and why that is is not readily understood. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. . Im not so sure very many pilots are going to jump at the chance to work another two years. If its a question of safety, theres ZERO DATA showing that allowing 121 crewed operations to continue to 67 would have any negative impact. At . There are specific retirement provisions and requirements for Air Traffic Controllers under CSRS. Nine airports have lost service completely, he said. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The 2007 law also brought the U.S. in line with international aviation standards promulgated by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Some schools are doing this but not all. "This would be maybe a short term, extra bubble of pilots, but it's not going to fix the long-term issue of needing more pilots. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A group of Republicans in Congress on Monday proposed legislation to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65, in a bid to address an airline . There have been, and are, too many initiatives to make fewer mechanics with lower qualifications necessary. Working for the airlines generally means working at night (when the planes are down), doing reams of paperwork, facing difficult deadlines when a scheduled fight has a mechanical problem, and being subjected to intense scrutiny if or when an accident occurs. Howes cheerful and healthy, with 40 years of commercial flying experience has a lot of thoughts about that. In 2007, ALPA supported the move to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65, a critical endorsement for the legislation that came after the union had worked with lawmakers on the bill. . I know plenty of highly-qualified pilots who would consider the airlines if only they didnt have to put up with the long and varying hours for comparatively low pay before making it to the majors. So to address the shortage, some in the industry and in Congress are calling for some big changes. "So, as long as they have the capacity to fly a plane with everyone aboard safely I'm all about it.". Speaking before pilots and aviation experts at the National Press Club on January 30th, Blakey said that the agency plans to propose adopting the new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard that . Dusty Johnson estimated that by 2023, the airline industry would be experiencing a shortage of roughly 12,000 pilots, to be exacerbated by another 14,000 soon to be forced to retire at age 65 . Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. It's something that's become all too common this summer, as airports have been busier than at any time since the pandemic began, but airlines struggle to meet the surge in air travel demand. Interesting how people throw around terms like Marxist and Communist and have no clue what those words mean. The CSRS retirement and survivor benefits are balanced by the value of the offset service in your social security benefit. However, some local civil aviation authorities have . Facing a pilot shortage, America's airlines could soon be employing older pilots. Finding a good replacement is proving to be a challenge. Republican lawmakers are introducing legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67, but the effort to quell chaos and cancellations at our nation's airports will only exacerbate current challenges for airlines, one pilot told Fox News. @GregoryW:In other wordspeople who dont vote the way YOU vote are people without a clue. If they raise the Social Security age of retirement from 65 to 68 or 70, how long until the airline retirement age does the same? Senator Grahams proposal only kicks the can a few years down the road without any attempt at solving the root problem (typical congressional buck-passing). Over the last few years, there has been an acute shortage of pilots in the aviation industry. I believe there are approx 14 countries who have age limits beyond 65. . Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. Amid pilot shortage, bill would raise retirement age to 67, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers.