Big news out of D.C.: three U.S. senators are urging the Trump administration to push ICAO to raise the international pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. Their reasoning? Keep experienced captains in the cockpit longer and strengthen U.S. leadership in global aviation — especially when it comes to mentorship.

Honestly, I’m all for it. There’s a generation of seasoned pilots who still have a ton to offer — not just in terms of skill, but real-world experience, sound judgment, and the kind of leadership that comes from decades in the air. Why not let them keep flying?

Critics argue this push could trigger ICAO to impose stricter age-based standards — including earlier cognitive testing, maybe starting in a pilot’s 50s. But honestly, that doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me. If done right, cognitive testing could simply be part of our regular FAA medicals — another layer of safety, not a penalty.

And let’s be honest — just like 50 is the new 40, the same goes for 65. Today’s pilots are staying sharper, healthier, and more capable than ever before.

If ICAO takes this up, we’re looking at a multiyear safety study followed by a formal review process. But it’s a conversation worth having — and in my view, a step in the right direction.

🚀 Stay current. Stay connected. Stay airborne.

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