Are older pilots prone to accidents?
That’s a question posed in the Fort Lauderdale’s Sun-Sentinel newspaper, following the crash of a 78-year-old pilot. The story notes that:
“Since 2003, there have been seven accidents in South Florida involving aviators ages 66 to 80. In the same period overall, there have been about 130 accidents, the vast majority involving pilots younger than 60.
Federal aviation studies note that older pilots are no more at risk for accidents than younger ones. One major reason: All pilots, no matter what age, must receive rigorous training to receive a license. Then, every two years, their skills are retested.
“As long as you’re mentally healthy, physically healthy and have a good aircraft, you could fly indefinitely, until the day they put you in the box,” said Anthony Restaino, 73, state president of the Florida Aero Club, which has 110 chapters.”
Is there a chance there may be a higher percentage of older pilots in Florida? Or, there may be more flying in Florida period? If the pilot population in general has aged, fly the same number of hours, and have the same percentage of accidents, of course, more accidents will involve older pilots.