A study of European pilots grounded for medical reasons found a link between their unfitness to fly and aging, with cardiovascular problems the most common cause of grounding.
The study, commissioned by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and published in the December issue of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, reviewed the cases of 82,435 pilots evaluated by six European national aviation authorities (NAAs). Of that number, 2.1 percent were assessed as unfit for flight. The reasons for their unfitness were cardiovascular problems (19 percent), psychiatric issues (11 percent), neurological issues (10 percent) and psychological issues (9 percent), the report said.1
“Among those holding a commercial pilot license … , a clear effect of aging on the unfitness rate was found, with the highest rate in the 51‒60 age cohort and, although slightly lower, in the [greater than] 60 age cohorts,” …
