Text size this story is by  Is 65 too old for a pilot? Do that
many years affect his ability to fly? This question is a focus
of inquiry following the serious aviation safety incident at
Ben-Gurion International Airport last month, in which an El Al
flight entered the wrong runway and prepared for takeoff, while
an Uzbekistan Air plane was coming in for a landing on the same
runway.  The preliminary investigation into the incident
indicated an error by the El Al pilot is what caused the near-
accident. Most international standards ban pilots from flying
after age 65, but not in Israel. The pilot involved is over 65
and serves as a first officer on Boeing 747-400s, the plane
involved in the incident. The pilot used to fly 737s but
recently was transferred to 747s. The issue of the pilot's
inexperience with this plane is also being investigated.  The
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration bans pilots from flying
commercially after 65. As for copilots, the equivalent of El
Al's first officer, the FAA recommends not