U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, John Thune, and Mark Kelly have jointly urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Anthony Clare, Chargé d’Affaires to the U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (USICAO), to support efforts by ICAO to raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots. The senators argue that this change could alleviate pilot shortages and enhance safety by keeping experienced pilots active.
The move comes amid concerns about China’s growing influence in international aviation standards. The letter emphasizes the need for the U.S. to maintain leadership in global aviation discussions, warning against allowing China to gain an advantage.
The call aligns with initiatives from countries like Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK, which are considering raising or eliminating the recommended retirement age of 65 for pilots. Data indicates that experienced pilots have fewer accidents than their junior counterparts.
Senator Blackburn has been a leading advocate for raising the retirement age. In a previous Congress session, she proposed an amendment in the Senate Commerce Committee to increase it from 65 to 67 as part of FAA Reauthorization efforts.
“The United States is one of ICAO’s largest member states,” emphasized Blackburn in her communication. “If the United States cedes our leadership role in this space on the international stage, China—who is presently and actively joining our partners to advocate for raising the pilot retirement age—will gladly fill that void.”
