Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to applying for a derogation from the European Aviation Safety Authority to allow pilots over the age of 65 to continue to fly commercial aircraft.

The age restriction for commercial air transport pilots is set both globally by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and in Europe by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA). The standards were developed to minimise the risk of pilot incapacitation, error or reduced physical or mental performance affecting the safety of commercial air transport operations.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has commissioned a ‘Pilots’ Age Limits’ research study. The results of this study are anticipated to provide evidence for EU rulemaking on pilot age limits, specifically whether or not the current upper age limits should be retained, amended or removed and whether mitigations to offset any increase in medical risk can be put in place if they are amended or removed. Although the study was commissioned primarily to review the age 60 upper age limit for single pilot commercial air transport operations, the evidence gathered will also influence the age 65 upper age limit for multi pilot commercial air transport operations. The Government will review the conclusions of this study closely.