Argentina’s Tango with Older Pilots may not dance in Montreal
Below are two recent, apparently unrelated, stories about Argentina’s civil aviation authority (ANAC). The November 30 report is a positive description of a meeting with the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO) in Lima about the South American civil aviation safety agency’s compliance with international standards. Five days before this meeting to resolve Argentina’s efforts to improve its score under the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP), ANAC issued a Resolution that would remove age limitations for its commercial pilots. Bad luck Argentina, your steps to receiving an acceptable rating may be blocked by an office 5 minutes from the UN’s aviation safety organization’s world headquarters.
The International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations (IFALPA) represent “more than 100,000 pilots in the Member Associations of nearly 100 countries worldwide. There ARE FEW POSSIBLE REGULATORY CHANGES against which this global organization ADAMANTLY opposes MORE THAN DELETING AN AGE CEILING ON THE SAFETY PROFESSIONALS who occupy the world’s commercial airline cockpits.[1]
The ICAO organization is located in Montreal, Canada at 999 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, Montréal, CA H3C 5H7. The decisions on Argentina’s USOAP score will be made there. IFALPA has a large office at 485 McGill Street, Suite 700
Montreal, Quebec (Canada) H2Y 2H4. The very well-connected staff of technical experts can be in the ICAO offices after a five-minute walk.
The unlimited pilot age proposal may avoid the IFALPA/ALPA blockage. The UN agency staff, specifically technical experts from ICAO’s South American Regional Office in various areas, such as Air Navigation, Licensing, and Operations, have been supporting ANAC’s effort to comply with the standards. Will MONTREAL feel obligated to upgrade the Argentinian USOAP because of the work with ANAC?
Argentina Prepares for ICAO Safety Audit with New Aviation Reforms
30/11/2024
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) hosted at its headquarters in Lima, Peru, the Secretary of Transportation from the Ministry of Economy of Argentina, Franco Mogetta, and the interim administrator of the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), Julia Cordero, who presented the progress made since the last inspection conducted by the international organization.
The national officials showcased the work being carried out in preparation for the upcoming ICAO audit, scheduled for January, under the framework of its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
During their visit, the national officials held a working meeting with the director of the ICAO South American Regional Office (SAM), Fabio Rabbani, during which they reviewed the action plan being implemented by ANAC with the technical assistance of the international organization to address the observations raised about Argentina’s aviation authority.
Non-compliance and intervention
In 2022, ICAO audited ANAC to assess Argentina’s compliance with international standards and procedures, yielding UNFAVORABLE RESULTS, with a compliance level of only 60.47%, significantly below the regional average.
In response to this situation, on July 12 of this year, the National Government decided to intervene in ANAC with the aim of identifying operational issues and taking corrective measures to overcome the longstanding deficiencies inherited from previous administrations.
Since then, a process of reorganization within ANAC has begun, involving the formation of a dedicated task force to address the findings identified, supported by technical experts from ICAO’s South American Regional Office in various areas, such as Air Navigation, Licensing, and Operations.
Additionally, during meetings with ICAO authorities, progress was made on the project to implement Latin American Aeronautical Regulations, aiming for regulatory harmonization at the regional level and the establishment of the delegated authority figure as outlined in Decree 606/2024 regarding ANAC’s intervention.
These measures, they noted, are intended to optimize the sector’s operational processes, improving both safety and efficiency in civil aviation.
Air deregulation
The progress in deregulation processes being carried out by the Secretariat of Transportation was also discussed, within the framework of the Open Skies policy and the establishment of new aeronautical trade relations with various countries.
In this context, the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with Mexico, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay, Panama, Canada, and Rwanda was highlighted, “which reaffirms Argentina’s commitment to expanding international air connectivity, creating new markets, and fostering tourism growth in the region,” they explained.
Dual oversight
During the visit, and within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Argentina and Peru in May of this year, a new agreement was also signed between the aviation authorities of both countries for dual oversight of operational safety.
This agreement aims to ensure that operations under interchange agreements, which allow airlines to use Peruvian aircraft and vice versa, comply with ICAO standards.
In this way, safety oversight is enhanced, risks associated with joint air operations are reduced, and the capacity to identify and mitigate potential technical and operational deficiencies is improved.
Moreover, administrative costs and efforts are optimized, while regulations, procedures, and oversight criteria in aviation are aligned between both parties.
Argentina Removes Age Limit For Commercial Pilots
By Luke Bodell
Argentina’s aviation regulator has SCRAPPED THE COUNTRY’S AGE CAP FOR COMMERCIAL PILOTS, letting them fly for longer without being forced to retire. Previously, the single-pilot age limit was set at 60 years old, while the multi-pilot limit was at 65. Argentina could be followed by other countries in the coming years as international efforts to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age continue.
Argentina removes maximum pilot age
Earlier this week, the NATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION OF ARGENTINA (ANAC) announced [ November 25, 2024,] Resolution 516/2024, which changes the Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations (RAAC) to remove age limits on commercial pilots. As explained by ANAC, the change will “increase the age limit for the holder of a pilot’s license to exercise his[2] powers in commercial air transport operations on national and international flights.“
The regulator added that its decision was based on improvements in medical technology and demand from airlines and other industry stakeholders, stating,
“With advances in medicine in general, and the NEED TO HAVE PILOTS TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND OF THE AERONAUTICAL MARKET, it is necessary to reevaluate the age limit at which pilot’s license holders can exercise their functions.”
There will, of course, still be stringent conditions to maintain a pilot license, including passing medical and airline evaluations. Argentina implemented its age restrictions starting in 2010 in accordance with recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which advises an upper age limit of 60 for single pilots and 65 for pilots in multi-crew commercial operations.
Should there be a pilot age cap?
Almost all aviation regulators maintain a maximum commercial pilot age based on ICAO’s recommendations. For example, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires the mandatory retirement of Part 121 pilots by the age of 65, although they can continue flying for an airline that is not a Part 121 carrier. However, there have been widespread calls to raise the retirement age, particularly in light of pilot shortages and medical advancements.
For example, at ICAO’s Air Navigation Conference this summer, one of the agendas was the idea of raising the global pilot retirement age. In the US, the conversation is ongoing – in February, Congress rejected a motion to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 (with the FAA also in agreement), but attempts to push through change have persisted. Most recently, a group of US senators urged the government to support ongoing international efforts to increase the pilot retirement age, stating that the “American public deserves the most qualified and experienced pilots when traveling.”
[1] Curiously IFALPA’s biggest member, ALPA, cites a long list of reasons why 65 should remain the rule, but never use the holy word “SAFETY”?
[2] DEI has not reached Argentina???
