65 a cutoff?

[cldsfr79]

HELL YEAH I think 65 should be a cut off age like the majors.

As for "passing the medical". these guys would never pass a medical exam in Europe, Asia or even most of Latin America...

They also wouldn't be able to pass a medical with their primary care physician. Their medical doctor that prescribes them medication that can't be taken while flying, or assists with their heart condition, or knows about other ailments may not know that these disqualify their patients from flying. Then the senior pilot goes to his FAA doctor, fails to fill in the medical boxes at the bottom of the form, talks to his doc about golfing, shakes his hand, and walks out with a fresh first class medical.

I've done a bit of research on the NTSB website and focused on accidents that involved pilots over the age of 60 and you would be surprised...or not, how many times disqualifying drugs or medical conditions were cited as a contributing factor of an accident.

I would agree to common ground and say you can fly as long as you have a medical if....after the age 65:
1) Your primary care physician with communication with the FAA doctor clears you for flight.
2) The pilot receives cognitive and motor skills tests.

 

[cldsfr79]

But when someone cries age and safety, it is really all about get out of my seat, pure greed.

Greed and Safety? Hmmm

First of all, why is it that every pilot who classified as a senior citizen denies that a human has no health issues as they age and that a FAA medical that consists of an eye chart, a conversation, and a knee tap, shows fitness?

Second of all, greed has to do with the guy in the left seat that flew 20+ years as a captain at airline "X", has in pension from there, may have a 20 year pension with the military, and hangs out in a jet because they get bored at home. Maybe the guy in the right seat that is struggling to raise a family, paying a mortgage on a house, and can't put any money away for the future because they have too many bills, might want a shot at the left seat.

If I was 65 and had my pensions, I would punch out and have fun with a new slew of hobbies and enjoy my hard earned life. If I still wanted to fly, I would become an instructor or mentor for future pilots.

 

[pilotyip]

I would agree to common ground and say you can fly as long as you have a medical if....after the age 65:
1) Your primary care physician with communication with the FAA doctor clears you for flight.
2) The pilot receives cognitive and motor skills tests.

sounds good to me. BYE BYE to a lot of under 65 pilots

Greed and Safety? Hmmm

First of all, why is it that every pilot who classified as a senior citizen denies that a human has no health issues as they age and that a FAA medical that consists of an eye chart, a conversation, and a knee tap, shows fitness?

Second of all, greed has to do with the guy in the left seat that flew 20+ years as a captain at airline "X", has in pension from there, may have a 20 year pension with the military, and hangs out in a jet because they get bored at home. Maybe the guy in the right seat that is struggling to raise a family, paying a mortgage on a house, and can't put any money away for the future because they have too many bills, might want a shot at the left seat.

If I was 65 and had my pensions, I would punch out and have fun with a new slew of hobbies and enjoy my hard earned life. If I still wanted to fly, I would become an instructor or mentor for future pilots.

How does this fit with the enhanced medical stuff? And from what I read here you are saying pilots wages should be determined by their needs. And that if they are struggling to make ends meet as a 70 year old pilot, they should be able to continue to work, but if the F/O is a retired USAF two-star General, he has to quit because he makes too much money? Sounds like inconme redistribution to me.

 

[cldsfr79]

sounds good to me. BYE BYE to a lot of under 65 pilots

I'm sensing a bit of confusion with the comprehension part of my post. Thank you, comprehension would also be an excellent addition to testing over the age of 65.

As noted, I said a pilot over the age of 65 would be subjected to further tests. If you wave the BS flag and say all pilots need cognitive, memory, and motor skills test, I will ask you to present me the historic data that says someone who is 40 has these issues. HUMANS are not tested at younger ages because their minds and skills are fit. But historic data shows that as someone ages their reflexes, thought processes, memory recall, and other cognitive skills deteriorate.

This is fact. I'm sorry. It happens, and it will happen to me. And I would subject myself to the same test I propose when I hit the proper age. I want to be safe and I don't want to endanger lives by continuing to fly when I am not mentally fit.

 

[hammer2]

Greed and Safety? Hmmm

First of all, why is it that every pilot who classified as a senior citizen denies that a human has no health issues as they age and that a FAA medical that consists of an eye chart, a conversation, and a knee tap, shows fitness?

Second of all, greed has to do with the guy in the left seat that flew 20+ years as a captain at airline "X", has in pension from there, may have a 20 year pension with the military, and hangs out in a jet because they get bored at home. Maybe the guy in the right seat that is struggling to raise a family, paying a mortgage on a house, and can't put any money away for the future because they have too many bills, might want a shot at the left seat.

If I was 65 and had my pensions, I would punch out and have fun with a new slew of hobbies and enjoy my hard earned life. If I still wanted to fly, I would become an instructor or mentor for future pilots.

Very shortsighted.

 

[BentOver]

The problem with your theory is that you assume that every 65+ yr. old ...

#1) flew at a major

#2) Has a huge pension

#3) Retired from the military with a huge retirement

#4) Doesn't need the cash

When I am 65 I will have done none of these things, hopefully I won't need the cash, but I don't want someone telling me when I should stop working if I choose.

Any age requirement should be brought on by physical/mental ability to still do the job safely. NOT what the guy in the right seat needs or wants.

BTW, I'm in my lower 30's, but don't feel it is any person's respnsibility to move along to benefit my career.

 

[Willy21]

The "get out of my seat" movement didn't start up in the last 5 years and won't go away when and if rules are changed. Every generation has been or will be on both sides. To go back and forth over this is a waste of time. Then again this is F.I.

And Semore, I would rather you buy the cookies and milk.

 

[gunfyter]

I don't envision not needing to work at 65. Its this or WalMart Greeter I guess....

 

[pilotyip]

I'm sensing a bit of confusion with the comprehension part of my post. Thank you, comprehension would also be an excellent addition to testing over the age of 65.

As noted, I said a pilot over the age of 65 would be subjected to further tests. If you wave the BS flag and say all pilots need cognitive, memory, and motor skills test, I will ask you to present me the historic data that says someone who is 40 has these issues. HUMANS are not tested at younger ages because their minds and skills are fit. But historic data shows that as someone ages their reflexes, thought processes, memory recall, and other cognitive skills deteriorate.

This is fact. I'm sorry. It happens, and it will happen to me. And I would subject myself to the same test I propose when I hit the proper age. I want to be safe and I don't want to endanger lives by continuing to fly when I am not mentally fit.

Oh! I see by your logic that all pilots 64 years are 100% capable in all aspects of being a good pilot, but at 65 all pilots need cognitive, memory, and motor skills test. We all know that is not true. We have all seen the 55 year old pilots who is winded after walking up one flight of stairs, who seemed surprised by what is happening next in his airplane, and couldn't compute a crossing restriction descent profile if his life depended upon it. But since he is 55 he 100% capable.

 

[Fubijaakr]

The last pilot who died on an airplane (as a passenger, its true) was in his 40s. We just had a retired CA (age 55) who had a stroke. So much for Age based restrictions.