Taiwan Lowers Pilot Age Limits to Boost Flight Crew Supply

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications has revised its aviation personnel regulations to lower the minimum age for pilot certification and raise the maximum age for airline operations, aligning national standards with global aviation authorities. The move aims to expand the supply of qualified flight crews and increase scheduling flexibility for airlines amid rising pilot demand.

Under the new rules, the minimum age for obtaining a commercial or multi-crew pilot license has been reduced from 20 to 18, while the minimum age for airline transport pilot certification drops from 23 to 21. The ministry said the changes bring Taiwan’s standards in line with those of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

In addition to lowering the entry age, the amendments raise the maximum pilot age limit to 65, matching the ICAO standard and improving roster flexibility for Taiwanese airlines. The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) emphasized that pilots aged 60 and above will continue to undergo mandatory medical examinations every four months to ensure safety compliance.

While ICAO regulations allow both pilots on international flights to be over 60, Taiwan will maintain its policy permitting only one pilot above that age per flight. The CAA noted that this cautious approach reflects best practices from other major aviation markets while prioritizing passenger safety.

The regulatory changes come as global aviation faces a growing pilot shortage, accelerated by post-pandemic travel recovery and rising airline capacity. Taiwan’s CAA said the decision supports its strategy to harmonize national certification standards with international benchmarks and strengthen the country’s competitiveness in global aviation.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, avweb.com