Originally Posted by skol
I think I'm performing quite well but definitely not as sharp as 5 years ago. But having flown with quite a number well over 60 I have personal experience with a couple of individuals who are performing abysmally. If you talk to them about it they still think they're doing OK. The Japanese CAA refuse to let 2 pilots over 60 fly with each other. Why do think that is?
This encapsulates what the argument is all about. Skol is putting forward a personal anecdote to justify an attitude which he thinks should be a policy continuing to apply to everyone. I could just as easily put forward some anecdotes of my own to support the counter argument - that there are plenty of "old" pilots who are far sharper than their younger brethren. I won't bore you all with them.
Fortunately, the decision in this is being made by wiser counsel. In Europe it will soon be illegal to force pilots to retire at an age earlier than that stipulated by the licensing authorities and the company which has just forced me out at 55 will no longer be able to do such things. In November, ICAO is expected to adopt the JAA standard of 65 with certain provisos. When this happens, countries such as France which bans commanders over the age of 60 in its airspace will no longer be able to do so. They may be able to ban their own nationals over the age of 60, but not others.
As to the Japanese ban on two over 60s flying with each other - that is the rule in JAA states as well and it is because of a slightly increased risk of heart-attack or stroke in those over the age of 60. It is, of course, based on historical evidence. There is every chance that when a future generation looks back at the medical data from our age they will wonder what the fuss was about. There may be some merit in Skol's idea that those over 60 should have more frequent medical exams and simulator checks and I could have no objection should that turn out to be the way ahead. However, I am not convinced that, for example, four-month medicals would have any value over six-month medicals. Simulator checks and recurrent training are another matter. As an ex-RAF instructor and training captain, I have long felt that the present six-monthly visits to the training block are inadequate - and that is regardless of one's age.
We live in a time when arbitrary rules which suited earlier generations are being overturned everywhere. They are no longer acceptable. We are living longer and we are fitter. This is an economic and social challenge to all advanced societies. Were I to retire now I have the real prospect (being very fit and still "young") of spending more years in retirement than I have spent in full-time employment. To those who don't welcome the change there is only one thing to say: Get used to it.