The myth that those over sixty five should give way to allow the young bucks to move up the cockpit food chain is a contradiction within itself.
One could as well argue that the lower age limit for an ATPL should be thirty five. Such a restriction would allow the younger pilot the opportunity for a career in the world of reality before he is allowed to escape into the cushioned and protected psychological confines of his aluminium womb substitution.
Furthermore, an ATPL age limit of this mark would place a safety check upon airline captains. It would ensure that they had reached a degree of life experience and maturity commensurate with the requirement to sit for long hours in a work environment with a totally inexperienced co-pilot. It would furthermore remove that bane of good CRM, the constant desire of the self inflated egotistical F/O to accelerate himself into the position of Commander long before he has the remotest capability for carrying out the responsibilities of that position.
I think that BALPA should seriously examine this proposal at the next meeting of the all important general council and recommend its adoption to British Airways and its franchise fleets with a view to influencing the CAAs of the world through such a sensible restrictive employment practice.