Very recently from a “horse’s mouth”:
In October 2005, ICAO will review the current air transport pilot (commander) retirement age of 60 as the overwhelming majority of contracting ICAO states is now in favour of revising upwards to age 65.
Formerly this scheme had been stymied by intervention from the USA but that nation’s objection has now been dropped as there is no convincing statistical medical evidence available to demonstrate the overriding necessity for pilot (commander) retirement at age 60.
Individual states may currently have retirement ages at, say 63-65, thus permitting domestic flying, but other states may prevent over-flight/landing of overage (60+) crews by citing the current ICAO age 60 rule that is, by default, incorporated into their own national legislation.
Eg: EU pilot (commander) retirement age 65 – France prevents over-flight/landing of such over 60’s crews by embracing the current ICAO retirement ruling (60) into its national legislation.
When ICAO moves upwards to retirement at 65, France will be unable to continue on this tack.
Last edited by highcirrus; 7th Dec 2004 at 05:18.