Regulations and Government
New legislation lets older pilots fly longer
Last month Congress passed and President Bush signed legislation that raises the mandatory retirement age for U.S.

Last month Congress passed and President Bush signed legislation that raises the mandatory retirement age for U.S. airline pilots from 60 to 65. That means that pilots at or near age 60 will not have to wait for the FAA to complete its cumbersome rulemaking process. Pilots who fly business aircraft under Part 91 do not have a mandatory retirement age, but since some Part 91 and Part 135 operators rely on aspects of Part 121 to guide their flight department policies, NBAA members potentially could be affected by this legislation.

Former FAA Administrator Marion Blakey announced in January 2007 that the agency was bowing to international standards and would abandon its decades-long adherence to the so-called Age-60 rule, which requires airline pilots to retire at age 60.