Points very well made Scroggs. Indeed, the latest 'news' coming out is that the countries you mention will not have a choice. It is EU legislation, and although France shows a remarkable level of intransigence by the time we get to 2006 it will fall in. Then people will carry on to whatever age they wish to work.
.........and, now that people are living in excess of 75 years for men and 80 for women the changes that come with it will be marked, and will have to be taken note of at the CAA, FAA and all other aviation controling bodies.
But I would bet that a retiring age of 70 for pilots will be fairly common in the airlines in the next 10 years.