Pilot Shortage Critical Despite Age Change

While industry was commending Congress and President Bush for changing the Age 60 rule last week, adding another five years of possible service for airline pilots, pilot advocates say it will do little to address the critical pilot shortage experienced worldwide. Related Story
“The Regional Airline Association commends the President for signing into law and both houses of Congress for unanimously passing legislation to move up the mandatory pilot retirement age from 60 to 65,” said RAA President Roger Cohen. “RAA strongly endorsed the need for the measure, particularly since regional airlines have been dedicating significant resources in recruiting and training pilots in order to meet customer demand.”
The new law includes provisions to ensure continued safety as the mandatory retirement age raises to 65 it also includes requirements for pilots who have reached age 60 to: (1) have a first-class medical certificate renewed every six months; (2) continue to participate in FAA pilot training and qualification programs to ensure continued acceptable levels of pilot skill and judgment; and (3) be administered a line check every six months.
In addition the new law requires international flights departing from the United States to have at least one pilot under the age of 60, thus applying international standards; this requirement would terminate if the international standard were changed. In addition, the increased pilot age limit is not retroactive, and therefore does not allow pilots who reached age 60 prior to enactment to serve as a pilot unless they are employed by an air carrier as a required flight deck crew member or they are newly hired on or after the date of enactment without credit for prior service. This was a major provision required for pilot support. Pilot groups are still dubious about the change saying it will slow career advancement while giving veterans another five years of earning power. 
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a new estimate that the industry may need 17,000 new pilots annually owing to expected industry growth and retirements, according to a report in last week's Air Safety Week, sister publication to Regional Aviation News.
"Increasing the retirement age to 65 will help, but it can't be the only solution,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and CEO. “It's time to ring the warning bell. We must re-think pilot training and qualification to further improve safety and increase training capacity. The industry is concerned that there are no global standards for training concepts or regulation. Pilot training has not changed in 60 years - we are still ticking boxes with an emphasis on flight hours."
IATA supports the competency-based approach of multi-crew pilot licensing (MPL) training programs. Unlike traditional pilot training, MPL focuses from the beginning on training for multi-pilot cockpit working conditions. It also makes better use of simulator technology. Europe was among the first regions to adopt MPL and Australia and China are moving ahead with implementation.
IATA launched the IATA Training and Qualification Initiative (ITQI) to support a global approach to MPL implementation. "Our goal is to increase the pool of candidates and training capacity while improving standards," said Bisignani. As part of ITQI, IATA will host a database to track the progress of MPL cadets and allow the industry to make training adjustments, if necessary. IATA also called for greater cooperation with governments. In China, IATA is working with the government to develop the syllabus and incorporate MPL into national regulation.