ICAO Rejects Airline Industry Proposal to Raise Pilot Retirement Age

WASHINGTON— A working paper submitted by the International Air Transport Association – a global airline trade association – was soundly rejected at the 42nd Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal. Air Line Pilot Association, Int’l president, Capt. Jason Ambrosi issued the following statement:

“ALPA applauds ICAO for reiterating that the current medical science and available data does not support an increase in the pilot retirement age. ALPA appreciates the ICAO Secretariat’s commitment to improve data generation and analysis procedures with an aim to strengthen and harmonize the global aviation medical risk management system.

“Just as Congress rejected a similar move last year and reiterated its support for the current standard, ICAO has placed sound aviation policy ahead of political gamesmanship. Raising the pilot retirement age is a solution in search of a problem that distracts from the pressing needs of our industry, like modernizing the air traffic control system. The United States leads the world in aviation, and we should resist any political attempts, especially those not backed by data and science, that would disrupt the US aviation system and put us outside international standards.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.