Iata suggests a higher age limit of 67 years for pilots operating commercial flights

New Delhi, August 27 (PTI) Global Airlines’ Grouping Iata suggested that the upper age restriction be increased to 67 years for pilots operating commercial flights with multiplicants. In the midst of a lack of available pilots compared to the increasing demand that is encouraged by the growth of the aviation sector, the proposal by Iata was made to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The International Air Transport Association (Iata) represents about 350 airlines worldwide, including Air India, Indigo and Spicejet. In a workpiece entitled ‘proposal to increase the multi-pilot commercial air transport aircraft to 67 years, Iata said the growth of the aviation industry worldwide causes the demand for pilots to outdo the supply. “Raising Cat (Commercial Air Transport) Pilot age restrictions to make more pilots continue to work are in line with 15 of the 17 United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the initiative of the next generation aviation staff (NGAP) program to ensure a sufficient offer, or The upper age limit for pilots for managing multi-pilot flights increases to 65 years from 60 years. The emphasis that raising the limit up to 65 years has not compromised the aviation safety and integrity, the grouping of airlines said the proposed increase to 67 years is a ‘cautious but reasonable step in accordance with safety’. In at least three countries – Canada, Australia and New Zealand – there are no upper age limits for pilots, nor for the pilots undertaking cat activities. The retirement age for commercial pilots in India, which is one of the world’s fastest growing civil aviation markets, is 65 years. According to Iata, the assignment has so far supported ICAO initiatives to progress more integrated systems of medical assessment. This will ensure that the secure implementation of changes to pilot age restrictions as well as the value and effectiveness of a risk limits, system -based integrated approach to the management of any medical condition that can affect flight safety. Furthermore, the grouping of airlines said there is no evidence of increased medical safety events in licensed air traffic controllers who are not subject to age restrictions, assessed by similar functional requirements, disability risk targets and operational competency testing. “The two biggest concerns about the future risk of fatal accidents are mental health conditions and problematic use of drugs (eg alcohol and other medicines). These potential causes of aviation-related deaths tend to be present in a younger demographic,” it reads in the workpiece, which was presented this month. In the workpiece, the grouping Icao requested to compile standardized medical risk assessment and supervision systems that were reliable by a standard set of pilot medical data to assess the medical risks associated with the pilot age. It also showed up for countries to work with the industrial and representative bodies on medical, licensing and operational domains on the development of accompaniment material to increase the upper age limit to 67 years for pilots undertaking international cat operations. Meanwhile, India has submitted an assignment on “needing to address equal opportunities in international operations” to ICAO, in which it expressed concern about some foreign airlines stripping pilots of Indian carriers. “India wants to raise concerns about the repeated tendency of the carriers of some contracting states to train the trained technical staff of the Indian carriers without any consultation/notice, thereby possibly causing a code of conduct in the staff member among the members of the members, and to mitigate the ninth month.