FAA tells Congress not to raise the mandatory retirement for pilots until it can study the issue

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration is warning Congress not to raise the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots until the agency can study whether older pilots would raise safety risks.

FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a letter to two key senators Monday that pilot fitness is critical to safety, and the agency should be able to create safeguards before raising the age limit.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chair of the Senate committee that oversees aviation, endorsed the FAA’s position.

“When it comes to raising the pilot retirement age, the FAA has made clear that a scientific and safety analysis must come first. That has not happened,” Cantwell said in a statement. “Aviation safety is paramount, and now is not the time to take a shortcut.”