Age restrictions UK CAA

[c100driver]

Interesting news item from the UK?

Does RPT have similar rules Downunder?


LONDON, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- The British Civil Aviation Authority said a LOT Polish Airlines flight from London to Warsaw was grounded when both pilots were found to be over 60.

The agency said inspectors had the flight grounded at London's Heathrow airport and passengers had to wait 5 hours for a reserve pilot to be flown in from Poland after inspectors discovered both pilots were over the age of 60, a violation of international air regulations, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

"LOT knows the rules and strictly adheres to them," the airline said in a statement. "But in this case there was an unfortunate coincidence. The crew roster was completed shortly before the aircraft left Warsaw, and the crew scheduling system did not issue a warning that both pilots were over 60, which it always does."

In 2006 the International Civil Aviation Authority required pilots over the age of 60 to be paired with pilots under 60 after it extended the maximum age to 65.

[PACIFIC BARON]

It is certainly true for Australia, and to the best of my knowledge the rest of the world!!!!!

[4dogs]

Yes, there have been rules for over 60s since 1992. They were established, despite ICAO, because the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 made it unlawful in Australia to discriminate on the basis of age.

No, they are not the same as those reported in the article.

5.171 Air transport (aeroplane) pilot: requirements if over
60 years old

(1) An air transport (aeroplane) pilot who is at least 60 years old must not fly as pilot in command of an aeroplane:
(a) that is engaged in commercial operations; and
(b) that is carrying passengers.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.

(1A) An offence against subregulation (1) is an offence of strict
liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply to an air transport (aeroplane)
pilot if:
(a) the pilot flies an aeroplane:
(i) that is fitted with fully functioning dual controls; and
(ii) that has an operating crew that includes a qualified pilot who is not the pilot in command; or
(b) in the case of a pilot who is less than 65 years old — within the period of 1 year immediately before the day of the proposed flight the pilot has satisfactorily completed an aeroplane proficiency check or an aeroplane flight review; or
(c) in the case of a pilot who is at least 65 years old — within the period of 6 months immediately before the day of the proposed flight the pilot has satisfactorily completed an aeroplane proficiency check or an aeroplane flight review.

(3) In this regulation:
qualified pilot means an air transport (aeroplane) pilot or a commercial (aeroplane) pilot who:
(a) holds a command endorsement for the aeroplane; and
(b) if an activity for which a flight crew rating is required is to be carried out during the flight — holds a flight crew rating, or grade of flight crew rating, that authorises him or her to carry out the activity as pilot in command of the aeroplane; and
(c) either:
(i) is less than 60 years old; or
(ii) satisfies the requirements of paragraph (2) (b) or (c).
Note: The activities for which a flight crew rating is required are set out in
subregulation 5.01 (2).

So, while the compliance issues (including different medical requirements) must be carefully managed, the flight may not have been grounded in Australia. I know of pilots who have continued to fly RPT as PIC past 72 years of age, although for certain periods forced to fly as FO awaiting simulator availability for proficiency checks.

Stay Alive,