Pilot Retirement Age-China ?
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Pilot Retirement Age-China ?
Well, I took the Law of the Moderator into my own hands and posted this link from another forum. Maybe everyone else knew about this already but it's the first mention I've seen of a factor I never understood about China and its "alleged" pilot shortage, i.e., why have a pilot age limit that cuts off access to the very demographic they seem to need: experienced captains. Have I misunderstood something here ?
https://www.aerotime.aero/en/civil/1...rease-in-china
https://www.aerotime.aero/en/civil/1...rease-in-china
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Well, I took the Law of the Moderator into my own hands and posted this link from another forum. Maybe everyone else knew about this already but it's the first mention I've seen of a factor I never understood about China and its "alleged" pilot shortage, i.e., why have a pilot age limit that cuts off access to the very demographic they seem to need: experienced captains. Have I misunderstood something here ?
https://www.aerotime.aero/en/civil/1...rease-in-china
https://www.aerotime.aero/en/civil/1...rease-in-china
Thread Starter
Well, that would be QUITE...and fortunately...correct. :-))))
It's why I asked the question.
Since I began paying attention to the issue of int'l pilot supply I've seen China slap an age 60 restriction on pilots resulting...from what I can observe from the Peanut Gallery...in an alleged "shortage" of experienced captains due to an employment age limit in the low to mid 50s (apparently owing to the end-stage age 60 limit...gotta get a few years out of the serfs & peasants). Experience can only be gained one hour and one year at a time.
Cutting off access to the 55+ demographic is just mindless bureaucratic constipation. Or, there's really no "shortage".
So, the article has missed the mark ? And nothing will change from the official age limit change in the final shakeout of the looming...and crippling...pilot shortage in China ?
Not picking a pprune purse fight...just trying to understand.
It's why I asked the question.
Since I began paying attention to the issue of int'l pilot supply I've seen China slap an age 60 restriction on pilots resulting...from what I can observe from the Peanut Gallery...in an alleged "shortage" of experienced captains due to an employment age limit in the low to mid 50s (apparently owing to the end-stage age 60 limit...gotta get a few years out of the serfs & peasants). Experience can only be gained one hour and one year at a time.
Cutting off access to the 55+ demographic is just mindless bureaucratic constipation. Or, there's really no "shortage".
So, the article has missed the mark ? And nothing will change from the official age limit change in the final shakeout of the looming...and crippling...pilot shortage in China ?
Not picking a pprune purse fight...just trying to understand.
Last edited by bafanguy; 3rd Jun 2017 at 10:51.
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You can currently continue to fly with your current employer to 60, and even pass 60 on a case by case extension basis. But when a local Chinese pilot switches, job, Airline B has to pay Airline A a huge sum of money (in the tune of $700k USD, I last heard), not unlike a footballer transfer fee, hence the low 50-yr old range hiring norm. In China, some of the rules don't even make sense to local Chinese. Case in point being that a certain percentage of applicants must fail a test, any test (medical included). You can see that the system and the medical exam are your biggest problems rather than age.
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At my Chinese airline no ExPats can go beyond age 60. Several of the Chinese Captains have attempted to continue and NONE have passed the medical as no CAAC Doc will sign your medical. In China if you have a medical incident the Doc who signed your medical is punished so nobody will take the risk. You would think this would be a good way to gain some more pilots by removing the restriction but things change slowly in China. The women can now continue beyond age 50 until age 55 but there are none in that age group at my airline. There are a handful of young women age 25-33ish but only a handful.
Last edited by WYOMINGPILOT; 3rd Jun 2017 at 14:31. Reason: xxx
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Isn't the whole point of going to China to bank and get out? So WTF???
By the time you hit 60 if you started soon out of high school you would have 40 years of freaking flying...., Really? Enough is enough!
By the time you hit 60 if you started soon out of high school you would have 40 years of freaking flying...., Really? Enough is enough!
Not everybody started after High school.Some mights have started flying as a second career and might in fact still be enjoying it !!!! I know some guys in there 50's who are in better shape then some 40 year old. Just a thought !!!
Last edited by volare_737; 5th Jun 2017 at 05:07.
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I appreciate the info in the responses...quite educational. After watching this expat issue for a while, I can only say it appears the Chinese have a very peculiar way of dealing with the "shortage" of pilots seemingly indicated by page after page of perpetual ads for experienced flight crews. Kinda makes ya wonder...
You young blokes have it hard! I got my Chinese licence when I was 66. Admittedly I had been flying there for ten years on CAA and CASA endorsements. I eventually lost my medical owing to an enlarged kidney when I was 68.75. I was short listed for a simulator job but then the 60 year old limit had come in much to the regret of the potential employer.
(Or so he said)
My licence states that there is no age limit in much the same way as a CASA licence does.
(Or so he said)
My licence states that there is no age limit in much the same way as a CASA licence does.
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You young blokes have it hard! I got my Chinese licence when I was 66. Admittedly I had been flying there for ten years on CAA and CASA endorsements. I eventually lost my medical owing to an enlarged kidney when I was 68.75. I was short listed for a simulator job but then the 60 year old limit had come in much to the regret of the potential employer.
(Or so he said)
My licence states that there is no age limit in much the same way as a CASA licence does.
(Or so he said)
My licence states that there is no age limit in much the same way as a CASA licence does.
6 years in China, current, employed by 2 different airlines.
The requirement for having a national licence did not come in force until 2006. At that time all of us with endorsements had to get a Chinese licence within six months.
As I said, I got my Chinese licence when I was 66. (Born in 1940)
In my forty-eight years career it was some of the most enjoyable times I had but it helps. in China, being old.
As I said, I got my Chinese licence when I was 66. (Born in 1940)
In my forty-eight years career it was some of the most enjoyable times I had but it helps. in China, being old.
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The requirement for having a national licence did not come in force until 2006. At that time all of us with endorsements had to get a Chinese licence within six months.
As I said, I got my Chinese licence when I was 66. (Born in 1940)
In my forty-eight years career it was some of the most enjoyable times I had but it helps. in China, being old.
As I said, I got my Chinese licence when I was 66. (Born in 1940)
In my forty-eight years career it was some of the most enjoyable times I had but it helps. in China, being old.
Thread Starter
Another article on the subject:
"The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) plans to raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from the current 60 as part of a strategy to ease the shortage faced by Chinese airlines. The agency has yet to arrive at a decision on the exact age, but it plans to implement the change in two or three years."
"Despite the looming crisis, Liu said airlines have not canceled or delayed flights due to the shortage."
China To Raise Mandatory Retirement Age for Pilots | Air Transport News: Aviation International News
"The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) plans to raise the mandatory retirement age for pilots from the current 60 as part of a strategy to ease the shortage faced by Chinese airlines. The agency has yet to arrive at a decision on the exact age, but it plans to implement the change in two or three years."
"Despite the looming crisis, Liu said airlines have not canceled or delayed flights due to the shortage."
China To Raise Mandatory Retirement Age for Pilots | Air Transport News: Aviation International News
