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Will the pilot age be raised to 67?

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted to pass legislation that would raise the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age to 67 from 65 and make other aviation reforms, with the Senate now set to consider its own measure.



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The Air Line Pilots Association has said hiking the retirement age could cause airline scheduling and pilot training issues and require reopening pilot contracts. Current international rules would still prevent pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the United States.

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Bottom line: You're never too old to travel.

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What Pilots Do After They Retire. The debate around when pilots should retire may continue, but whether it's at 65 or 68, there is life after flying. After retiring, many pilots pursue second careers as flight trainers or find other jobs in aviation.

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Retirement values for a 35-year airline pilot career range from $1.8 million to over $3 million at the US major airlines. Retirement benefits are estimated at either 7.5 percent of the defined benefit program, if one is provided, or three percent of the final annual salary.

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Most such payouts approach or exceed seven figures, he adds. Other estimates range between $2 million and $2.5 million. The problem — read opportunity — is that many pilots have not focused on how they will invest that money after they retire — usually at 60 or earlier.

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Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)—a specialized unit of the U.N.—that has set an upper limit for pilot flying at age 65. As a result, flying through international airspace—including routes prized by senior pilots—will be off-limits to pilots over age 65.

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Upon promotion to Captain, though, Delta pilots earn a starting pay of $189,000. The top pay for a Delta Airlines Captain is approximately $205,000, but those flying a Boeing 777 can potentially earn $298,500 per year plus bonuses, or as much as $350,000 in one year.

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WHAT'S REQUIRED TO BE A DELTA FLIGHT ATTENDANT? Applicants must have a high school diploma, GED or high school equivalency, the ability to work in the U.S., speak, read and write English fluently and be at least 21 years of age at the time of application submission.

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Bottom line: You're never too old to travel.

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Since commercial flights are pressurized to 6000 – 8000 ft, older adults with stable cardiovascular disease should be able to fly without risk.

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The average age of airline pilots is 40+ years years old, representing 61% of the airline pilot population.

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Pilot? It takes two months to become a pilot and earn your private pilot license. To become an airline pilot, it takes two years to gain the required 1,500 hours flight time.

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If you are older than 75, the federal Transportation Safety Agency will make special accommodations for you when it comes to going through security. However, you may experience some delay if you have a wearable medical device or medical equipment, which must get checked separately.

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