The FAA recently published a Final Rule amending the Code of Federal Regulations to conform certain regulations with recent legislation raising the upper age limit for pilots serving in domestic, flag, and supplemental operations from 60 to 65 (49 U.S.C. Section 44729). Although the legislation became effective December 13, 2007, the Final Rule’s amendments became effective July 15, 2009.
Not only does the Final Rule specifically implement the legislation, it also goes beyond that legislation to maintain consistency throughout the remaining aviation regulations. The FAA believes Congress clearly intended the legislation to implement the ICAO age requirements for pilots operating internationally, to allow them to conduct commercial air transportation operations under certain conditions until the age of 65. As a result, additional implementation includes amendments to FAR Sections 121.411 and 121.412 to raise the age limit from age 60 to age 65 to allow check airmen and flight instructors to serve as pilot flight crewmembers until they reach the age of 65 and amendments to the applicable provisions of FAR Part 61 to reflect the new upper age limit and to allow a person over the age of 60 to serve as a pilot in command in covered operations between the United States and another country, and in operations between other countries, if there is another pilot in the flight deck crew under the age of 60.
If you would like further information regarding the Final Rule, you may contact the following: For technical questions concerning this rule contact Lawrence Youngblut, Air Transportation Division, AFS-200, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-9630, e-mail lawrence.youngblut@faa.gov. For legal questions concerning this rule contact Angela Washington, Office of the Chief Counsel, AGC-210, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-7556; e-mail angela.washington@faa.gov.
