Pilots have to retire at 65 primarily due to international aviation regulations, established by bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to ensure safety by mitigating age-related risks like potential cognitive decline, even though many pilots remain highly capable. While the rule is largely for international flights, many countries apply it domestically, with regulations balancing the wealth of experience pilots gain against potential health and performance concerns.
Right now, both the United States and ICAO, which is part of the United Nations and regulates international flights, require pilots to retire when they reach 65.
18. Pilots who accept the offer to retire early under the Scheme will be required to terminate their employment at least six months prior to reaching the mandatory long-haul retirement age of 65. 19. The Scheme will commence within 14 days of Qantas obtaining approval for the Scheme from the Commissioner.
The "Age 60" rule dates back to the late 1950s and was implemented at that time on the basis of concerns regarding an aging pilot population and operational challenges being presented by an air carrier industry that was transitioning from propeller driven to high-performance jet aircraft.
For domestic commercial flights: most countries follow the same 65-year rule, but some go further – Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan all allow older pilots under certain medical and operational conditions, while others, like India, apply stricter limits.
Pilots making $200k+ annually are typically captains at major airlines, especially on long-haul/widebody aircraft, or experienced cargo/corporate pilots, with earnings increasing significantly with seniority, flying larger jets, and potentially including substantial bonuses, profit-sharing, and allowances. For example, a first-year captain at a major US airline might hit $200k, while senior widebody captains can exceed $400k-$500k+ with experience, benefits, and bidding strategies.
In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121.
Happily, the new research contradicted Clarke's findings. It found that a full 50-percent of the pilots in this study's sample, who retired at age 60, were expected to live past 83.8 years, compared to 77.4 years for the general population of 60 year-old white males.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets international aviation standards, mandates that pilots in multicrew operations must retire at age 65.
Yes, $700,000 in super can be enough for a comfortable retirement in Australia, especially for a couple or a single person with a modest lifestyle, often combined with the Age Pension, but it depends heavily on your desired lifestyle, spending, homeownership, and whether you're single or a couple. For a comfortable retirement, a single person might aim for around $595,000-$600,000, while a couple might need $700,000-$700,000+ at age 67, with non-homeowners needing more, so $700k is a solid base but could be tight for extravagant spending.
Qantas pilot salaries vary significantly by rank and aircraft, with First Officers starting around AU$79,000-$100,000+ (increasing with experience and long-haul) and Captains earning well over AU$200,000, with senior long-haul Captains exceeding AU$400,000-$500,000 annually, plus benefits, allowances, and bonuses, according to 2025 data. Entry-level roles at regional QantasLink start lower, but offer a clear path to these higher earnings, placing Qantas among Australia's top-paying airlines for flight crew.
Australia is among a small group of countries that allows pilots to fly domestically beyond the age of 65. Pilots in New Zealand and Japan are also flying into their 70s, provided they pass strict medical checks every six months.
Pilots over 65 can still fly in many non-airline roles, such as charter, corporate, private, or instructional positions. As long as they maintain the appropriate medical certification, age does not prevent them from continuing to contribute professionally within other areas of aviation.
The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $226,600. Year-over-year, this was almost a $10,000 increase, as compared to 2023. In addition to annual earnings, pilots take part in company health, life and disability insurance, and retirement plans.
The law was justified in testimony on the basis of two arguments: (a) that the cumulative stress of the job and shift work would result in “burnout” for the controller, thereby increasing risks to the safety of flight; and (b) that controllers lost proficiency with age, thereby increasing risks to the safety of flight.
Pilot salaries depend on experience, airline, and location: some pilots earn a solid living, while others reach millionaire status.
The high level of concentration required to fly an aircraft and the mental stress of being responsible for the safety of passengers can be fatiguing. Pilots must be alert and quick to react if something goes wrong.
United Airlines pilots are among the highest-paid in the U.S. aviation industry. Thanks to a 2023 contract boosting pay by up to 40%, a first officer can now start at $120 per hour, while senior captains on widebodies like the 777 and 787 can earn up to $352 per hour.
Death is the most extreme example of incapacitation, usually as a result of a heart attack. Although most recorded deaths of operating pilots in flight have been found to be due to cardiovascular disease, by far the most common cause of flight crew incapacitation is gastroenteritis.
The 3:1 rule in aviation is a rule of thumb for descent planning: for every 1,000 feet of altitude to lose, you need 3 nautical miles (NM) of horizontal distance, assuming a standard 3-degree glide path, making it easy to calculate when to start descending. For example, to descend 6,000 feet, a pilot starts descending 18 NM out (6 x 3 = 18). It helps maintain a consistent descent rate, critical for passenger comfort in older planes and for fuel efficiency in modern jets, and aligns with standard approach systems like ILS/VASI.
The effect is small – take a transatlantic flight from London to New York and your watch will be a ten-millionth of a second behind one left on the ground – but nonetheless you'll have aged a fraction more slowly than if you'd stayed at home.
What medical conditions does FAA consider disqualifying?
Pilots making $200k+ annually are typically captains at major airlines, especially on long-haul/widebody aircraft, or experienced cargo/corporate pilots, with earnings increasing significantly with seniority, flying larger jets, and potentially including substantial bonuses, profit-sharing, and allowances. For example, a first-year captain at a major US airline might hit $200k, while senior widebody captains can exceed $400k-$500k+ with experience, benefits, and bidding strategies.
The Act has now been codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 44729. Section 44729 of Title 49 allows a pilot to “serve in multicrew covered operations until attaining 65 years of age,” subject to certain limitations.