• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.105-113
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• 2019

The commercial pilot retirement age has continued to 65 since the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) amended the recommended age limit from 60. The target of this review is to analyse whether aged pilots have an increased age-dependent risk of medical incapacitation. Medical in-flight incapacitation is actually very rare event and the demonstrated annual incapacitation rate provides an acceptable risk within the criteria known as 1% safety rule for a pilot undertaking air transport operations while some controversies exist. There is a possibility that the accident rate has decreased due to the improved skill by increasing pilot's age. At the decision of flight or not for elderly airline pilot the interacting factors of personal health status, piloting experience and new flight environments should be considered to define job limit criteria than mere the age. Results of a survey led by airline pilot association in Korea shows 65% of airline pilots are willing to fly without any age limit and 87% agreed that age limit is worthy to extend beyond current standard on the basis of medical examinations. Only 11% agreed to maintain current age limit.