While commercial pilot age limitations are in place to ensure that the pilots can meet the physical and mental demands of their job, research and technological advancements may affect regulatory perspectives on these limitations in the future. Medical experts from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) met in Tokyo from 18-19 March to discuss past and ongoing work supporting changes in regulation and oversight measures related to these age limitations.

Organised by the EU-Japan Aviation Partnership Project (APP), the two aviation authorities at this workshop first presented the aeromedical aspects of their respective civil aviation systems and aircrew and Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) medical certification. Other subjects presented on include studies on age limitations, the case of age limit extension for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) pilots, and Aeromedical Centre (AeMC) and Aeromedical Examiner (AME) certification and oversight. Finally, the participants to this workshop also visited an AeMC.

JCAB and EASA concluded that this event had been very insightful and showed the similarity in priorities at medical level. It was agreed that the two sides would continue discussions later this year.