WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, joined six of her colleagues this week to reintroduce the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act, which would help address airline flight cancellations caused by a shortage of pilots. The legislation was led by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
“An ongoing shortage of airline pilots nationwide continues to impact Nebraskans by reducing the volume of available flights – particularly at our rural airports. Passing this bill would be an important step toward reversing the high number of service reductions and flight cancellations,” said Senator Fischer.
The legislation:
Raises the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67
Requires that pilots over the age of 65 maintain a first-class medical certification, which must be renewed every six months
Requires air carriers to continue using pilot training and qualification programs approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Does not change or alter any other qualification – beyond age – to become a commercial airline pilot
With baby boomers making up half of the airline pilot population, roughly 5,000 fully qualified pilots will be forced to retired within the next two years, and the problem will grow even more acute in the years after. The wave of forced pilot retirements continues even as hundreds of flights are being cancelled due to a shortage of available pilots and crews.
In 2007, the retirement age for pilots in the United States was raised from 60 to 65 after medical reports concluded age had an ‘insignificant impact’ on performance in the cockpit and that there were safety precautions already in place to prevent accidents in case of incapacitation. Nothing in this legislation changes current safety and proficiency procedures for commercial pilots. Pilots will continue to be held to an incredibly high standard to ensure passenger safety.
In addition to Sens. Fischer and Graham, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
