Bill Overview
Title: Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act
Description: 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.
Sponsors: Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21]
Target Audience
Population: Commercial pilots aged 65 to 66
Estimated Size: 6000
- The bill specifically mentions pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations, thus they are directly impacted.
- The age bracket specifically targeted is pilots aged 65 and 66, allowing them to extend their flying career by two years.
- Commercial aviation operations are a large industry globally, with thousands of pilots nearing retirement age.
- The legislation applies primarily to countries recognizing the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations and where the laws permit commercial pilots to fly substantially beyond 65 years.
Reasoning
- This legislation primarily affects pilots aged 65-66, allowing them to continue working for an additional two years.
- Approximately 6,000 U.S. pilots would benefit from the policy, providing continuity in a high-skilled job market at a lower risk of skill deterioration.
- The broader aviation industry remains relatively unaffected in the short term, limiting economic ripple effects.
- There are associated cost savings for airlines as they reduce the need for training new pilots to replace retiring ones.
- Social implications include improved mental well-being for pilots who prefer not to retire abruptly and can still perform safely.
Simulated Interviews
Commercial Airline Pilot (Dallas, TX)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel more secure knowing I can continue flying for another two years.
- This bill is great for those of us who still feel capable and want to keep contributing.
- It gives me more time to save for retirement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Commercial Airline Pilot (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This change allows me to maintain financial stability a bit longer.
- I'm glad the bill recognizes our experience as valuable.
- The policy gives us a chance to ensure more women stay in the workforce longer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Retired Commercial Pilot (Seattle, WA)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a bit too late for me, but I believe it's really beneficial for my peers.
- I think it could have positively impacted my transition to retirement.
- Glad to see the emphasis on experience.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Commercial Airline Pilot (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it’s a good move, but doesn’t affect me yet.
- It can reduce the stress of worrying about early retirement.
- We need to ensure pilots can safely perform their duties regardless of age.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Recently Retired Pilot (Miami, FL)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish this had come sooner; I didn't feel ready to retire.
- It's good news for the industry and those still flying.
- Hopefully, it'll help retain skilled pilots longer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 2 |
Commercial Airline Pilot (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy helps relieve some anxiety of nearing retirement age.
- It gives us more time to manage the transfer of experience.
- I support making our roles more appreciated in the workforce.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Commercial Airline Pilot (New York, NY)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love flying and am grateful to keep going for another two years.
- The bill is a win for pilots who feel young at heart.
- It helps us remain financially sound for longer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Retired Pilot (Boston, MA)
Age: 71 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wish this legislation was in place when I retired; I still felt capable.
- I'm happy for my colleagues that they can extend their careers.
- Age shouldn't be the sole factor in deciding a pilot's career end.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 1 |
Commercial Airline Pilot (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This won't impact me for a few decades, but it's comforting to know it exists.
- It shows recognition of experience and capability over age.
- I feel more secure about my long-term future in flying.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Commercial Airline Pilot (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is good foresight by the government.
- I’m glad it’s there for when I approach retirement.
- It may motivate me to keep maintaining my health and skills for longer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring additional health and safety checks for pilots aged 65 to 67 to maintain high aviation safety standards.
- Potential minimal amendments to FAA regulations to accommodate the increase in allowable age for pilots.
- The economic effect might be more pronounced if the international community universally accepted this change.