But an increasing number of people believe pilots are required to retire when they're actually at their flying best. Dr. Steven Gambert, geriatric specialist at Mount Sinai hospital, thinks 60 is an unfair retirement age. But in the four decades since, many argue, our ideas about aging have changed. Russell, who will turn 59 this spring, runs 12 miles a week. He believes he'll be at his best at 60.
Experience comes one day at a time.
You can't get it any faster than one day at a time. Suing for the Right to Fly Russell and dozens of other pilots are suing the FAA to let them fly after they reach age 60, citing a 1993 FAA study that found older pilots were actually among the safest. Congress may take up the pilots' case as well. Last week, Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, proposed raising the mandatory retirement age for pilots from 60 to 65 years old. It's even more pertinent because the United States is in the midst of a pilot shortage.