US Senators Push to Raise International Pilot Retirement Age

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Senate Majority Whip John Thune, is urging the Trump administration to support global efforts to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots. The senators are advocating for international alignment with a potential increase in the U.S. retirement age from 65 to 67.

Although a similar proposal was rejected by Congress in 2023, U.S. lawmakers remain focused on eliminating age-based restrictions that limit experienced pilots from continuing to fly internationally. Current International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards prohibit commercial airline pilots over age 65 from operating flights in most countries outside the United States.

Leading the call is Senator Marsha Blackburn, joined by Republican Senator Thune and Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators emphasized that “raising or eliminating the pilot retirement age—coupled with the existing rigorous technical and medical testing that pilots undergo—would reduce aviation accidents by closing the experience gap and retaining the highest level of expertise on the flight deck.”

The senators urged the State Department to push the ICAO, a United Nations aviation agency, to adopt the higher retirement age internationally. They warned that failing to lead on the issue could open the door for countries like China to take the lead. “If the United States cedes our leadership role… China will gladly fill that void,” the letter states.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has opposed raising the retirement age, citing concerns about airline scheduling disruptions, pilot training complexities, and the need to reopen pilot contract negotiations.

The State Department has not commented on the letter. The U.S. ambassador post to the ICAO has remained vacant since Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger resigned in July 2022. President Biden nominated former Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the role in 2023, but the Senate has not confirmed the appointment.

The debate over pilot retirement age continues as the airline industry faces ongoing pilot shortages and increased demand for air travel.

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