WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a provision sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). The amendment – to allow commercial airline pilots to fly until age 65 provided the other pilot is under age 60 – was added to the Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development (TTHUD) funding bill.  An identical provision was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee on May 16, 2007 as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill.  The FAA currently requires commercial pilots to retire once they reach age 60.  The FAA announced earlier this year that it would begin a rulemaking process to raise the retirement age of commercial pilots to age 65, which would make United States policy consistent with international commercial pilot standards established by the International Civil Aeronautics Organization.  Current international standards allow one pilot up to age 65 provided the other pilot is under age 60.

 

 

Senator Stevens’ amendment would specifically direct the Department of Transportation (DOT) to adopt the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pilot age standard within 30 days. The new standard would allow one pilot up to age 65 to command a commercial air carrier provided the other pilot is under age 60. If a pilot has been terminated because of the current Age-60 restriction, that pilot can be re-employed by a carrier.  However, the pilot cannot file suit to gain re-employment and cannot file suit to reclaim seniority under any labor agreement in effect between a recognized bargaining unit for pilots and an air carrier engaged in commercial operations. It would also require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a report on the impact of this provision on aviation safety within 24 months.