This report is concerned with the relation of age, experience and automation. It has been prepared as part of the Solutions for the Human-Automation Partnerships in European ATM (SHAPE) Project managed by the ATM Human Resources Unit of EUROCONTROL, later renamed the Human Factors and Manpower Unit (DIS/HUM) and today known as the Human Factors Management Business Division (DAS/HUM). This is the first report of the SHAPE Work Package Age and Experience. The document contains a literature review about known positive and negative effects of ageing on human performance, and discusses the relevance of these aspects for the European Air Traffic Management (ATM) environment. The results were discussed with Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs) and summarised. A sequel document (currently under preparation) is dealing with the application and evaluation of a questionnaire about the effect of age and experience, which was distributed to EUROCONTROL Member States and evaluated in 2002.