Originally Posted by skol
Wingswinger,
In some countries there are no restrictions on age as long as you pass a medical. That means 2 80 or 90 year olds can fly individually or together on air transport ops. Does that make sense to you?
No, it doesn't. Do you know of any 80/90-year-olds who do fly on air transport ops? That is not the argument, in any case. Unless I have missed something, we are talking about a general raising of the retirement age from 60 to 65 for commercial pilots operating on public transport aircraft over 20 tonnes MTOW. I am not arguing about a cut-off age and I do believe there should be one. I am arguing about what that age should be in the light of the increased longevity and much-improved health now evident in Western societies. I am happy to accept whatever final retirement age the authorities decide upon. You have to admit that it looks as thought that will be 65.
Originally Posted by skol
On a recent medical I asked the doctor how he weeds out old pilots. With great difficulty he tells me. He had only failed one on the basis of being 'past it'. He explained that he had no idea how a pilot performed or how he managed to keep the show on the road at 0300hrs on the basis of a 20 min medical. As far as he was concerned the best way was to have an age limit where everyone gave it away.
First, unfortunately, this anecdote falls because it is only one man's opinion. Second, Twenty minute medicals?! That could be construed as a dereliction of duty! Mine last an hour. In any case, one has to question whether or not it is in his gift to "weed out" old pilots. He is supposed to assess their physical fitness, not make subjective judgements about how they cope in the wee small hours. Over the years there have been many instances of doctors making wrong decisions about the physical fitness of pilots. I recall the case of one acquaintance (a marathon runner) who was told by a doctor that his heart rate was too low and he would be grounded for tests some of which were invasive. He was too fit! Make of that what you will. Common sense prevailed but not until my acquaintance had been off flying for nearly a year.