Tokyo--Japan on Thursday raised the age limit for being in charge of a commercial plane to 67, the latest effort in Asia for an industry struggling to get to grips with a drastic shortage of pilots.
The move looks set to make pilots working for Japanese airlines among the oldest in the world.
Until now, pilots have had to hang up their hats when they hit 65. Under Japan's new rules, those who are currently 64 or less will have the option of carrying on flying right up until their 68th birthday.
"We are aiming to ease a shortage while still ensuring safety," a transport ministry official told AFP.
Currently the country has 5,900 airline pilots, of whom 500 are aged 60 or over, according to the ministry.
But surging demand by passengers, especially in the booming low cost carrier sector, has created a shortage that last year forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights.
Demographics are expected to exacerbate the problem in the 2030s, when a raft of Japan's captains -- now in their 40s -- hit retirement age.
Australian aviation expert Neil Hansford said globally there was a lack of skilled pilots and the use of older workers was "becoming pretty standardised except for some of the unionised countries".
"Sixty-five is very common now," Hansford told AFP.
Greg Waldron, the Asia managing editor of Singapore-based FlightGlobal, said the high cost of training to become a pilot put off many potential entrants.
"The industry is in a bit of tough patch now in terms of bringing in qualified, good individuals to become pilots," he said.
AFP
