I think that many of you that are reacting to this rule change are ignorant of history. The age 60 rule was instituted for no other reason, except anti-labor/union.
When Quesada took over as FAA Administrator he was in the pockets of Juan Trippe and all the other airline cronies of the late 50's. They wanted to lower their costs by lowering their salary structure. The age 60 rule was trumped up to get rid of all the high-dollar earning pilots on the seniority lists of TWA, Pan Am, EAL, etc...No extensive study was conducted, nor was any data collected to support a mandatory airline pilot retirement age.
Now, the airlines are hurting for pilots and will absorb high costs associated with training a large group of new-hires. Age 60 is being changed for no other reason, but financial expediency. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with safety or ICAO alignment (which is also a crock...screw globalization, but thats another issue). The whole thing stunk before and it stinks again. We as pilots are being manipulated and duped at the same time...AGAIN.
Regards,
ex-Navy Rotorhead