Maybe a better idea would be to ensure that proficiency checks are meaningful before dismissing every septuagenarian, or sexagenarian, or quinquagenarian, and so on, because one person of a similar age may have had a very bad day.
LookingForAJob,
I agree with you, but then I have a vested interest. I’ve been flying for 50 years, still have a Class 1 medical and hope to emulate George Neal, the ex-DHC test pilot, who was flying in his 90s.
I was chatting with a fellow tow pilot about degradation of skills with advancing years and said “I hope that someone will tell me if it’s time to quit.” He said “Don’t worry, you’ll know. Nobody will have to tell you!”
The oldest pilot who has flown me was 84 years old, in command of a DH Dominie, that was not much younger than him!