Just how much of the "problem" can be laid before AJX/ANA??
JCAB only retains supreme relevance whilst they maintain their supreme dominance.
The only reason the retirement age has increased over the last 5 years or so is that ALL airlines, especially the "new" LCC's - who must be perceived to be supported by the government agencies - are having trouble maintaining operations due lack of experienced crews (read "captains").
Until ALL airlines complain to the government/agencies regards their impending doom due lack of suitable applicants (in this case caused by historically inefficient times to obtain a JCAB licence/line clearance) nothing will change.
Q: do new JCAB licence applicants still have to do the 3-5 day radio course of how waves fly through the air like back in the 1950/60's (and pass the all important test of course)before they can obtain their radio licence?
If the answer is "yes" - that tells you all you need to understand about the evolution/modernisation of the Japanese licence process.
Cheers.
