Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2023
This bill raises the mandatory retirement age for pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations from 65 to 67 years of age, unless the operation takes place in (1) the territorial airspace of a foreign county where such operations are prohibited by the foreign country, or (2) international airspace where such operations are not in compliance with the Annexes to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The Federal Aviation Administration must also submit a report to Congress on further increasing the age limitation for pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1761 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1761
To amend title 49, United States Code, to raise the retirement age for
pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 23, 2023
Mr. Nehls (for himself, Mr. Babin, Mr. Pfluger, Mr. Moore of Alabama,
Mr. Fallon, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Steube, Mr. Rouzer, Mrs. Boebert,
Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Donalds, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Mr. Johnson of
South Dakota, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Roy, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr.
Davidson, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Gimenez, Mr. Good of Virginia, Mr.
Grothman, Mr. Burlison, Mr. Rosendale, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr.
McCormick, and Mr. Mills) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to raise the retirement age for
pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of
2023''.
SEC. 2. INCREASED RETIREMENT AGE FOR PILOTS.
Section 44729 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by
section 107 of division Q of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
(Public Law 117-328), is further amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 44729. Age standards for pilots
``(a) In General.--A pilot may serve in multicrew covered
operations until 67 years of age.
``(b) Covered Operations Defined.--In this section, the term
`covered operations' means operations under part 121 of title 14, Code
of Federal Regulations, unless the operation takes place in--
``(1) the territorial airspace of a foreign country where
such operations are prohibited by the foreign country; or
``(2) international airspace where such operations are not
in compliance with the Annexes to the Convention on
International Civil Aviation.
``(c) Regulations.--On and after the date of enactment of the Let
Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2023, subsections (d) and (e) of section
121.383 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be deemed to
have been amended to increase the age listed in such subsections to 67
years of age.
``(d) Applicability.--
``(1) Retroactivity.--A pilot who is over 65 years of age
on the date of enactment of this bill may return to service in
multicrew covered operations until 67 years of age.
``(2) Protection for compliance.--An action taken in
conformance with this section, taken in conformance with a
regulation issued to carry out this section, or taken prior to
the date of enactment of the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of
2023 in conformance with subsection (d) or (e) of section
121.383 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect
before such date), may not serve as a basis for liability or
relief in a proceeding, brought under any employment law or
regulation, before any court or agency of the United States or
of any State or locality.
``(e) Amendments to Labor Agreements and Benefit Plans.--Any
amendment to a labor agreement or benefit plan of an air carrier that
is required to conform with the requirements of this section or a
regulation issued to carry out this section, and is applicable to
pilots represented for collective bargaining, shall be made by
agreement of the air carrier and the designated bargaining
representative of the pilots of the air carrier.
``(f) Medical Standards and Records.--
``(1) Medical examinations and standards.--Except as
provided by paragraph (2), a person serving as a pilot for an
air carrier engaged in covered operations shall not be subject
to different medical standards, or different, greater, or more
frequent medical examinations, on account of age unless the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration determines
(based on data received or studies published after the date of
enactment of the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2023) that
different medical standards, or different, greater, or more
frequent medical examinations, are needed to ensure an adequate
level of safety in flight.
``(2) Duration of first-class medical certificate.--No
person who has attained 60 years of age may serve as a pilot of
an air carrier engaged in covered operations unless the person
has a first-class medical certificate. Such a certificate shall
expire on the last day of the 6-month period following the date
of examination shown on the certificate.
``(g) Safety Training.--Each air carrier engaged in covered
operations shall continue to use pilot training and qualification
programs approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
``(h) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on
further increasing the age limitation described in subsection (a).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
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