Comparative study of physical and mental incapacities among Portuguese airline pilots under and over age 60.

This study evaluated the number of definitive flight incapacitations and deaths which occurred among Portuguese airline pilots between 1945 and 1983. Also, all pilots over 60, no longer flying, continued to be submitted to the same medical, psychological and psychomotor tests as before. The number of incapacities and deaths was related to the number of pilots by age groups of 5 years from age 20-24 to 65-69, in a total of 1528 pilots at risk. Under age 60, the pilots' careers were interrupted for pathological reasons (8) and deaths (13), mainly through unforeseen severe diseases (13) and violent deaths (6). Over age 60, no deaths occurred and the majority of the psycho-physiological problems susceptible to being considered incapacitating (10) were expressed by expected degenerative disorders which were strictly connected with aging. The rate of incapacities became higher than under age 60, but 64% of over 60 examinees were absolutely fit for flight duties.