Adel Ghobbar posted in Air Operations
5 months ago
Public
I have an enquiry about Pilot Retirement as we do have a short of Captains. My question here under EASA rules can we extend the age of retirement from 65 to 67 or more if their health allows that.
Your reply would be appreciated.
Prof. Dr. Adel Ghobbar
a.a.ghobbar@sorteng.de
Hi,
Unfortunately FCL.065 (b) is clear cut:
"Holders of a pilot licence who has attained the age of 65 years shall not act as a pilot of an aircraft that is engaged in commercial air transport."
As you rightfully put, with advances in medicine and the shortage of qualified flight crew, it would be worth to consider a more flexible age limit.
Even though EASA is not related to this, it is discussed as an opinion on another platform.(FCL.065 Curtailment of privileges of licence holders aged 60 years or more in commercial air transport) It will come into force at the end of 2024. I am sharing it for informational purposes.
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/opinions/opinion-no-0520…
What about single engine piston operation. I work for a Seaplane company in Norway doing seightseeing flights. Experienced seaplane pilots are not easy to find. We have several 60 year olds that now only can fly privately. And they do for many years with no problem whatsoever. Seaplane operations are a bit physical in nature. Just to prepare the flight and dock/undock require vigelence. Hence, when people are not fit for this they will naturally stop flying seaplanes. I hope therefor the current rules can be eased. It does not make much sense from our point of view.
Thank you.
BR Trond Nypan
SCM Scandinavian Seaplanes AOC AS
Sign up or Log in to join the discussion