Oldest Australian Airline Pilot?
 

Out of idle curiosity...... How old is Australia's oldest currently operating airline pilot?

The oldest I am aware of is 72 years of age, 32,000 hours and a current Grade 1 Instructor.

Anyone top that?

Also heard of a current Grade 1 Instructor still flying and instructing in his early 80's. (A legend - many will remember him from Newcastle.)

No names please!

Tail Wheel

There is no upper age limit on an ATPL in Australia, only current medical.

The USA upper limit was age 60 - think it is now 62 or 63 years of age?

Col Pay (RIP) was older but not a current airline pilot.

I'm curious about the oldest current airline pilot, not names or airlines.

What about Jack C, he was the Chief Pilot of the Dc3 Company operating from BK a few years back, I believe he was over 65.

84 when I flew with him last year... :)

A very reliable source told me recently (within the last 6 months) that there were two over-70 captains currently flying for Qantas domestic. It was said that their careers had been similar all the way through and neither wanted to be the first to retire.

And I don't know if he's still flying, but KA certainly was still doing ATO duties last time I heard of him. Flew bombers in WW2 I was told.

I know of another charter pilot, Grade 1 Instructor and LAME who has 35,000 hours (not including a few "extra" hours he "forgot" to log during his long ag flying career.)

I seem to recall the claimed highest time pilot ever had over 45,000 hours when he retired in the USA.

It would be interesting to know the highest time current pilot in Australia?

Tail Wheel

I know of a husband-wife team who I am led to believe are in their 80s. I've been told she's the oldest CFI in the country, and he is a couple of years older than her I think... Couldn't tell you the exact age I'm sorry...

TT

Old pilots
 

I don't think there is anything pathetic about being able to maintain a medical category and the skill to continue to instruct. Respect amos2, respect!!!

I;m pretty sure the world record for hrs logged is 65,000 done by a guy in the US who flew the same J3 Cub on powerline inspection duties for 55 years continuously. His last flight was 2 days before he suddenly died in his sleep in his mid 80's, about 3 years ago. he was mentioned in an issue of FLYING.

Didn't a Qantas pilot successfully sue Qantas about the retiring age? This pilot could only be used on domestic services due to the laws of other countries... so I presume now that there are quite a few over 65... good on 'em.

Tailwheel,

If the Newcastle bloke you refer to is the one I'm thinking of he's an absolute legend. Total gentleman and a brilliant instructor/examiner. Used to wear motorcycle boots. Ex Esso bizjet CP and was the Beech demo pilot for a number of years. A more unassuming and humble man you'll never meet. Glad to hear he's still well. Lived near Lockinvar?

Nuf.

That's him. Not sure where he lives in NSW, haven't spoken to him for around a decade.

Am I right in thinking that the old Ag pilots generally have the most hours? More than the old airline pilots?
How many hours do the posters on this thread have? I'd guess I've got about a fifth as much as old fella.....just cause of his handle. 4400 total.

cjam. It is probably fair to assume many ag pilots that started their career in the 1950s or 1960s may have flown far more hours than their log books records. :E

The years of the super phosphate bounties were boom years for the agricultural aviation industry.

I know of ag pilots who completed a full "season" in the eastern states, then move to the west for another full "season" - all in the same flying year!

80??
 

I know a of a flying instructor who has been 80 for the last two or three years.

Does that include those who have stopped line flying and are instructing in the sim?

I know a very senior QF 744 guy who is well over 65......larger than Life and goodnes knows why he let them talk him into staying......its not like he needs the $$. Top bloke though!:ok:

J:ok:

.......the oldest Australian Airline Pilot?.....well some mornings feels like ME:E My wallet is not as fat but am still a pilot !:ok:

I think the older ones are staying there 'cause of posts in that other thread, ..........."any jobs in the Pacific for a low time pilot":bored: That's a crack up!
Just as a side note to this anybody know of the oldest pilot in OZ still flying full stop?


CW

The pilot and ATO Nuthinondaclock is referring to, R E is in his mid 80s, still current.

I heard that an instructor who used to be on the Gold Coast some years ago, F K, is still flying and must around be the same age?

Most ag pilots from the 1970's had two logbooks one for DCA/CASA and one for themselves. Back in the good old days a good pilot and a beaver could spread a fair bit of superphosate.

All very interesting posts! I can't fathom flying that many hours- 65,000!! That would be a fewyears continuously in the cockpit from rough mental arithmatic!

Just to confuse the thread even further- how about the other end of the scale? Over the years what has been the youngest age to a command of an airliner? Ie Domestic or International, Jet or old big piston propliners?

Billy Vincent had 20,000 hours in his logbook, 18,000 in GA aircraft and 2,000 in ultralights. Not bad for a PPL pilot, all of that in single engine aircraft and most of that over Bass Strait.

Oldest QF 744 captain i can find is 64. He's good for world airspace until he's 65 when I think the US may ban him again....and that means the Indons do also. Not 100% sure on that now whether the 65 extension is just for US pilots or whether it applies to everyone. I don't think he'll be able to 'bid back' to the 767 again as he's already done that once before when he turned 60- before they changed the rules and those aged greater than 60 could fly o/s.

I know there is a 744 F/O who is 66. My records show about 70 QF drivers over the age of 60. Some of them are skippers, some of them are F/Os, one of them is a S/O! :eek: (He's an ex Flight Engineer). :ok:

I did hear of a 67 year old 737 driver a few years back. I can't see their details to be sure how old the oldest one is now.

Keg, do your homework son. There are 2 S/Os over 60 - GS & NM. They were both on a LAX trip last month together.
I am reliably informed that the 66 year old F/O is on LSL and won't fly again.
Watch out for the sim instructors over 60 listed as Capt with seniority over 2000.

there is a D8 captain in PNG who is 69 with 30000+ hrs and still going strong....

Keg

With all due respect....is WT over 60ish? Nice chap too!

J

AQIS Boigu. Is GF (ex SQ) still with APNG? I would have thought he was well over 70?

mustafa, thanks for that....probably should have said "...at least one is a S/O". I was aware of GS- was in the same class as his daughter in primary school :eek: - but wasn't aware of the other. I should have been given his history with the cadets in ADL all those years ago!

Jaba, if it's the WT that's into regulatory stuff then 61. :ok:

IBJ, 71 years young F/O just retired. Something like 30 years with the same company!

Career f/o's
 

So it appears we have quite a few long term f/o's.
We better tell the flying schools about that.

None of you are even close , up till a few years ago there was a FLYING TIGER Flight Engineer on their 747 Classic Freighters who was , wait for it , 83 years old!!!!!!!!! Iknow you wanted Australian crew but this takes the cake!!!!!!!:cool:

bushy - some of the older chaps like IBJ are/were only FOs because of the ATPL req (not having done the subjects). They logged many hours in command prior.

Oldest Airline Pilot
 

It's amazing how many replies there are here and yet none answer the question put up by "Tailwheel"

I have been checking with interest (as have others) but to date no answer. I read that the question is related to currently operating i.e. with current medical, current simulator, line checks etc;

Perhaps somebody may know of such a person or even the one mentioned by tailwheel.

I have become aware of one with a Regional Airline in an Eastern state who still moves around like a 45 year old and other crews (both tech and cabin) are quite pleased to have him around when the outside turns nasty etc: Hopefully, some may guess to whom my reference refers.

Anyhow, good on him (and any others) for staying around and passing on many beneficial points.

:D:ok:

Tail Wheel,

GF "was left" when the B1900s were returned - I wasnt working at MBA/APNG at that time but I heard that he was keen to go onto the D8. The company suggested though that it was time for his retirement.

AB

AQIS, thanks for that - I guess he's retired at last? He must be 80-ish by now.

Tail Wheel

Capt Charles Wytcherley 73 HeavyLift B727 skipper going strong.

DEREK,

Is that because you are 98 and bed ridden ?:{

Rather be out flying any day, than stuck in the old peoples home crapping me dacks.

If you can pass the medicals keep on flying!!!

All the more reason to look after your health, so you can get there, too.

Nice Post! The USA has quite a few corporate types who were able to hang on! I got a tailwheel checkout in 1976 from Edna Gardner White who was 80 at the time. She must of had 40,000 hours!

More than 21,000 hours later, I still remember the checkout and how much of a professional she was...........original 99er. Sorry, off the original question........age 60 and still going!

Airmike767

86 years old - amazing! Born the year after Q.A.N.T.A.S!