The real reason to not change the law
The vast number who want this changed are trying to pad their 401s, retirement benefits, etc OK. Why do we have the rule?
It's not changing because it is the right thing to do it is changing because it is the most politically expedient thing to do. Bad idea.
Age 60 is the rule. Age 65 is a similar rule with a different number and a caveat that you have to have someone under 60 with the someone over 60. This is acknowledgement that age is an issue. We all know it is an issue.
If it isn't an issue then Foxhunter should quit his MD-11 job and play wide reciever in the NFL or go out and win a tennis championship at Wimbledon. Fact is no one under 30 has ever won the men's championship at Wimbledon. This is because the venue favors youth...reflexes, quickness.
Our profession favors pilots with the right mix of youth and experience. We need pilots who have enough time to have developed skills and more importantly judgement and decisionmaking...that is the experience side. The thing youth brings us is energy and sharpness. That is also essential (and mostly lost on the pro 60+ guys). The reality is that not enough experience is very bad. Not enough youth is also very bad. It's the old man's disease that all of us have seen "huh...was that 270...can you have him repeat that...are we cleared to land...dozing off."
All of us, not some of us will feel the effects as we age from 60 to 65. These effects will not make us safer. Sure we will become more experienced...the law of diminishing returns...nevermind...that experience gained just isn't helping anymore. This is because there is a much stronger force at work here...downside risk with age...no way does experience offset the age issue.
Age 60 protects us. I predict that if the law changes there will be an air disaster that is directly caused by someone flying who was "older" than they should have been trying to do the job. This will happen. When it does the accident will be on the front page of the paper. What will not be on the front page is an apology from the arrogant old-timers who got the law changed. Don't expect Ted Stevens to come out with his cane and say he was wrong.
This is about safety. This is about erring on the safe side. The only other alternative is to develop a comprehensive screening process that would test for things to make sure we are really fit. Don't tell me the PC/physical currently does this because it doesn't address my concerns. The PC does not replicate line flying and the FAA physical is a joke...huh? IF we did have more thorough screening, many of us would have to hang it up long before 60. That would probably be a good thing too.
Anyway, I really think we are making a mistake if we change this law. I believe the skies will be less safe.
Please write to your lawmakers:
http://www.senate.gov
http://www.house.gov
write to the FAA/DOT and tell them your concerns
Ask them "do you really want blood on your hands?" It will happen.