Kelly, Colleagues Urge USICAO to Raise Mandatory Commercial Pilot Retirement Age

Raising Retirement Age Would Help Retain Most Experienced Pilots and Reduce Accidents

This week, U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Thune (R-SD), Joe Manchin (I-WV), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (USICAO) Chargé d'Affaires Anthony Clare urging them to support raising the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age standard.

The letter calls for the USICAO to support efforts to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age: "We are writing to urge the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (USICAO) to actively participate in and support the effort along with other ICAO member states-to raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age standard. The American public deserves the most qualified and experienced pilots when traveling," the senators wrote.

The letter additionally highlights the growing consensus worldwide that raising mandatory retirement ages reduces accidents and increases safety for passengers, noting that "during the 14th Air Navigation Conference held this year… the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) advanced formal action directed at raising or even eliminating the institution's recommended pilot retirement age of 65 years… Such a move would be consistent with data from around the world, which confirm that experienced pilots have fewer accidents than junior pilots. […] In fact, many countries around the world already allow pilots above the age of 65 to fly and have been doing so without compromising safety," the senators continued.

If the United States cedes our leadership role in this space on the international stage, we know that China-who is presently and actively joining our partners to advocate for raising the pilot retirement age-will gladly fill that void. We urge you to actively participate in this important process and support raising ICAO's standard for the pilot retirement age," the senators concluded.

Click here for the full text of the letter.