NACA Commends Raising Mandatory Pilot Retirement Age in Omnibus
In response to the announcement of the provisions of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, National Air Carrier Association President and CEO George Novak issued the following statement:
NACA commends Congress for including a provision in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations legislation that would raise the mandatory retirement age of pilots for large, unscheduled charter operators from 65 to 70. We are certain that pilots in this age range that meet FAA’s health standards can fly safely in our skies. Reflecting trends in improved health and longevity, the mandatory retirement age for pilots was last raised from 60 to 65 in 2007.
In fact, from a safety perspective, it makes little sense for only charter pilots to work up to five years longer, as opposed to commercial airline pilots, who continue to be required by the FAA to retire at the age of 65.
As part of the upcoming FAA reauthorization legislation, we strongly encourage Congress to include pending legislation, the “Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act,” sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Congressman Chip Roy (R-Texas), that would help alleviate the increasing shortage of commercial airline pilots in the near-term by raising the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67.
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