Legal Interpretations
Groves 2014
Summary
The Question
Does ICAO's 2014 removal of the over-60 pilot pairing standard affect the pilot pairing limitations in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations?
Background
A requester asked what the FAA would do after ICAO Amendment 172 to Annex 1, implemented November 13, 2014, removed Standard 2.1.10's requirement that a pilot in command aged 60 to 65 in multi-pilot international commercial air transport be paired with a pilot under 60.
The FAA’s Interpretation
Yes. The FAA determined that the ICAO amendment triggers the sunset of the statutory authority in 49 U.S.C. 44729(c)(1) that underlies the pilot pairing limitations in 14 CFR 61.3(j)(2), 14 CFR 61.77(g), and 14 CFR 121.383(d)(2) and (e)(2). The FAA Chief Counsel issued a Federal Register notice, 79 Fed. Reg. 67346 (Nov. 13, 2014), describing the enforcement policy and anticipated actions.
- Requester
- Groves
- Issued
- November 19, 2014
- Subject
- Pilot Certification & Privileges
Regulations Cited
- 14 CFR 61.30
Page 1
U.S. Department
of Tronspor1a11on
Federal Aviation
Administration
NOV JP ·2014
Allen Groves
Office of the Chief Counsel 800 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, O.C. 20591
Re: Effect of the amendment to Standard 2.1.10 in Annex 1 to the Convention on
International Civil Aviation on pilot pairing requirements in title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations
Dear Mr. Groves:
This letter is provided in response to your request for information sent to me on August 11, 2014. Your request sought information regarding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) action in response to a recent amendment to Standard 2.1.10 in Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing) to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Until November 13, 2014, Standard 2.1.10 required a person between the age of 60 and 65 serving as pilot in command (PIC) of an airplane with two or more pilots, in international commercial air transport operations, to be paired with a pilot younger than 60 years of age. However, during a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council on March 3, 2014, Council members adopted Amendment 172 to Aru1ex 1, Personnel Licensing. The amendment removed the requirement in Standard 2.1.10 to pair a PIC over age 60 with a pilot under age 60. Without the pairing requirement, all pilots on multi-pilot crews serving in international air transport commercial operations may continue to serve as long as they have not reached 65 years of age. 1 The implementation of Amendment 172 to Annex 1, Personnel Licensing, took place on November 13, 2014.
We have determined that the recent ICAO amendment triggers the sunset of the statut01y authority in 49 U.S.C. § 44729(c)(l) that provides the basis for the pilot pairing limitations in title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. See 14 CFR §§ 61.30)(2), 61.77(g) and 121.383(d)(2) and (e)(2). Accordingly, the FAA Chief Counsel recently issued a notice in the Federal Register describing the enforcement policy and anticipated actions in response to the ICAO amendment. See 79 Fed. Reg. 67346 (Nov. 13, 2014). I have enclosed a copy of this policy for your review.
1 Amendment 172 to Annex I, Perso1mel Licensing, does not affect the maximum age permitted for pilots of engaged in single-pilot operations. Pil ot~ serving in single-pilot operations must be below 60 years of age.
Page 2
This response was prepared by Sara Mikolop> an attorney in the in the International Law> Legislation> and Regulations Division of the Office of the Chief Counsel, and comdinated with the Air Transp01iation Division of the Flight Standards Service. If you have additional questions regarding this matter> please contact my office at (202) 267-3073.
Enclosure
Regulations Referenced
Snapshot retrieved August 6, 2026.