Revision Lowers Minimum, Raises Maximum Age for Airline Pilots

Taiwan is moving to catch up with global standards, expanding its pilot age threshold on both ends to set its airlines up to meet increased travel demand. US senators have argued for a similar revision, though efforts stalled after the International Civil Aviation Organization shot down the proposal in October.

ICAO standards have allowed individuals to obtain a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) at 18 for longer than most pilots have been alive, as the organization took over and removed age restrictions from the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN) in 1947. Somewhat more recently, in 2006, ICAO raised the age cap for pilots in international commercial air transport from 60 to 65.

The somewhat overdue revision simply aligns Taiwan with these standards, allowing commercial pilots to qualify at 18 instead of 20. Airline transport pilot certification also drops two years, from 23 to 21.

At the other end of the spectrum, the upper limit for airline pilots is now 65, putting Taiwan in line with the US and much of Europe. Certain precautions have been maintained; pilots over 60 will continue to face medical exams every four months, and only one pilot over 60 can operate on an international route. The ministry claims the change will give airlines more flexibility in scheduling, buying them time while training catches up.

Global debates about pilot retirement ages have been growing for years, with some US lawmakers pushing to extend the limit to 67 up until their ICAO rejection in October. The proposal was backed primarily by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which argued that even a two-year rise to the cap could have a dramatic effect on the pilot shortage. Pilot unions strongly opposed the move, however, warning of increased health and cognitive risks.

Airlines, especially in East Asia, have been scrambling for flight crews since traffic rebounded faster than training programs could recover. Lowering the entry age allows younger cadets to begin earlier, filling a gap left by pandemic-era retirements and layoffs.

FMI: www.icao.int