WRITTEN QUESTION E-2294/00 by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Upper age limit for commercial pilots.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: France, civil aviation, common transport policy, competence of the Member States, transport licence

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/177

These Community actions, which complement initiatives undertaken by national authorities and interna-
tional organisations, indicate a real commitment to fight tuberculosis throughout the world.

(1) Decision No 2119/98/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 24.9.1998 (OJ L 268, 3.10.1998).
(2) Decision No 647/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 29.3.1996 (OJ L 95, 16.4.1996).

(2001/C 89 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2294/00

by James Nicholson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Upper age limit for commercial pilots

Is the Commission aware of the imposition by the French Government of an upper age limit for
commercial pilots flying over French airspace?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

The Commission is aware of the situation in France with regard to age limits for pilots.

At present flight crew licences are recognised for the purpose of overflying and landing of international
civil flights, provided they are issued in accordance with Annex I to the Chicago Convention. This Annex
contains a standard, which prohibits the exercise of pilot-in-command duties on commercial flights beyond
the age of 60 years and carries a recommendation that over-sixties should not fulfil co-pilot duties on such
flights. Accordingly, while certain States have filed a (cid:145)difference(cid:146) to Annex I to the Convention in order to
allow their own licences to remain valid for exercising duties on board commercial airplanes beyond this
limit, there are no powers which can oblige other States to accept this difference for the overflight of their
territory.

The Joint Aviation Authorities work on the harmonisation of flight crew licensing rules produced a
compromise, which allows licences to remain valid for exercising duties on board commercial airplanes
until their holders are 65, provided that they operate such duties on multi-crew airplanes where the other
pilot is aged less than 60 years. Nevertheless such a compromise is not binding on JAA Member States and
they still can decide not to accept overflight of their territory by commercial planes in which the pilot in
command is more than 60 years of age.

in the coming months a proposal

Commission services will present
to harmonise standards and
requirements for flight crew licensing throughout the Community. They have declared their willingness
to adhere as much as possible to the proposal of the JAA, including age limits, but obviously it is not
possible to prejudge the final decision that the Commission might take in the light of the necessary
consultations. Moreover, this proposal will be further discussed in the Parliament and the Council. There
can therefore be no certainty about the final result.

In summary, as long as the rules on flight crew licensing have not been harmonised at Community level,
each Member State is free to lay down its own rules on the issue. Of course, the rules have to comply with
the general principles of Community law such as, non discrimination and proportionality.