Government Affairs Committee
July 3, 2013
Age 67 Retirement Hoax
By now you have probably heard a rumor and seen an authentic looking email about the mandatory retirement age going to 67. There is NO verifiable evidence that any change to the Age 65 rule is being considered by any Congressional Committee or Governmental Agency at this time. Web boards have reported differently, but we can find no evidence from any credible source that this is true. CAPA met with Administrator Michael Huerta in DC two weeks ago, and the last question of our 45-minute meeting, which included Larry Rooney; Mark Niles; Maryann Demarco; and Pete Machtel, was a question from Pete regarding extending the mandatory retirement age. Mr. Huerta stated that there has been NO discussion on the issue. Shown below is the original announcement from 2007 dealing with the change from 60 to 65, as well as*****a portion of the HOAX email from 2012.
Government Affairs Committee
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REAL ANNOUNCEMENT from 2007:
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Release No. AOC 03-07
January 30, 2007
Contact: Alison Duquette*****
Phone:*****(202) 267-3883
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Marion C. Blakey today announced that the FAA will propose to raise the mandatory retirement age for U.S. commercial pilots from 60 to 65. Speaking before pilots and aviation experts at the National Press Club, Blakey said that the agency plans to propose adopting the new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard that allows one pilot to be up to age 65 provided the other pilot is under age 60.
The FAA plans to issue a formal Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) later this year and will publish a final rule after careful consideration of all public comments, as required by law.
?A pilot?s experience counts ? it?s an added margin of safety,? said Blakey. ?Foreign airlines have demonstrated that experienced pilots in good health can fly beyond age 60 without compromising safety.?
On September 27, 2006, Administrator Blakey established a group of airline, labor and medical experts to recommend whether the United States should adopt the new ICAO standard and determine what actions would be necessary if the FAA were to change its rule. The Age 60 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) did not reach a consensus recommendation but did provide detailed insight and analysis that will be helpful as the FAA develops a rule.
Since 1959, the FAA has required that all U.S. pilots stop flying commercial airplanes at age 60. In November 2006, ICAO, the United Nations? aviation organization, increased the upper age limit for pilots to age 65, provided that the other pilot is under age 60.
The November 29, 2006 Age 60 ARC report, appendices, and public comments are available online at*****
www.regulations.gov, docket number 26139.
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HOAX EMAIL from 2012:
Subject: FAA propose to raise mandatory age to 67
WASHINGTON, D.C. " Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced that the FAA will propose to raise the mandatory retirement age for U.S. commercial pilots from 65 to 67. Speaking before pilots and aviation experts at the National Press Club, Huerta said that the agency plans to propose adopting the new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard that allows one pilot to be up to age 67 provided the other pilot is under age 60. "