Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Age as a Factor In Flying The average General Aviation pilot was 39 years of age in 1990. Pilots over 60 have 2.1 times more accidents than pilots in their 50's. Pilots over 60 are safer than pilots in their 20's and 30's. The accident rate goes up after 60 perhaps due to subtle age-related deterioration in cognitive function. The older you are the dumber you get! My wife agrees. Older pilots like to think that what has been lost in ability has been made up in experience. By the age of 60 pilots lose some mental and physical abilities. By the age of 50 everyone has some vision loss known as presbyopia. Hardening of the lens causes this. As we age we become less efficient in getting and using oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide. Hearing by itself does not affect the ability to fly but it does make a difference in the communications area. Like vision, hearing the higher frequencies drops with age. Physically we become victims of some stiffness of the joints and extremities with age. Dehydration is going to have greater effect with age. We are all different in the way we age and the way our aging affects our flying. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM