Pre-Pilot Pathway Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2182 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2182

       To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish an 
 apprenticeship program for students at flight training providers, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 2025

 Mr. Donalds (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, and Mr. Nehls) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
       To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish an 
 apprenticeship program for students at flight training providers, 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 ``Pre-Pilot Pathway Act''.

SEC. 2. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR PILOTS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Apprentice.--The term ``apprentice'' means a student 
        enrolled at a flight training provider.
            (2) Flight training provider.--The term ``flight training 
        provider'' means a flight academy certified under part 141 of 
        title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate 
industry stakeholders and flight training providers who conduct flight 
training under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall 
establish an apprenticeship program to establish a pipeline of 
qualified and interested individuals to become commercial pilots.
    (c) Selection.--Under the apprenticeship program established under 
subsection (b), each flight training provider participating in the 
apprenticeship program established under subsection (b) may select up 
to 8 applicants, or more if considered appropriate by the Secretary 
based upon the size and type of each participating flight training 
provider, to serve as apprentices each academic year.
    (d) Curriculum and Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--To graduate from an apprenticeship program 
        established under subsection (b), an apprentice shall satisfy 
        any relevant requirements and minimum curriculum under part 141 
        of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
        regulations), including all curriculum under subpart C of such 
        part.
            (2) Minimum requirements.--Nothing in this Act prevents a 
        flight training provider from imposing additional requirements, 
        such as modifying the terms of service of the apprenticeship 
        program, on an apprentice taking part in an apprenticeship 
        program established pursuant to this section.
    (e) Optional Program.--A flight training provider may choose not to 
participate in an apprenticeship program established under this 
section.
    (f) Regulations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such regulations as are 
necessary to implement this Act.
    (g) Incentivizing Retired Pilots.--The Secretary shall take such 
actions as may be appropriate to develop methods to incentivize pilots, 
including retired military pilots, retiring airline pilots, and 
graduates of the apprenticeship programs established under this 
section, to become instructors, mentors, or program advisors at 
participating flight training providers, including through the 
development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain initial 
qualifications or concurrent qualifications as certified flight 
instructors under part 61 or part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations.
    (h) Reporting and Evaluation.--
            (1) Reporting.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress an 
        annual report detailing apprentice progress, retention rates, 
        and post-graduation employment outcomes under the program under 
        this section.
            (2) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual 
        review of the apprenticeship program's effectiveness, including 
        the impact on addressing pilot shortages.
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