H.R. 5523

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5523 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5523

To amend title 49, United States Code, to raise the retirement age for 
pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 19, 2025

Mr. Nehls introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to raise the retirement age for 
pilots engaged in commercial aviation operations, 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 ``Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED RETIREMENT AGE FOR PILOTS.

Section 44729 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by 
section 107 of division Q of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 
(Public Law 117-328), is further amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 44729. Age standards for pilots
``(a) In General.--A pilot may serve in multicrew covered 
operations until 67 years of age.
``(b) Covered Operations Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered operations' means operations under part 121 of title 14, Code 
of Federal Regulations, unless the operation takes place in--
``(1) the territorial airspace of a foreign country 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.
``(c) Regulations.--On and after the date of enactment of the Let 
Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2025, subsections (d) and (e) of section 
121.383 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall be deemed to 
have been amended to increase the age listed in such subsections to 67 
years of age.
``(d) Applicability.--
``(1) Retroactivity.--A pilot who is over 65 years of age 
on the date of enactment of this bill may return to service in 
multicrew covered operations until 67 years of age.
``(2) Protection for compliance.--An action taken in 
conformance with this section, taken in conformance with a 
regulation issued to carry out this section, or taken prior to 
the date of enactment of the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 
2025 in conformance with subsection (d) or (e) of section 
121.383 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect 
before such date), may not serve as a basis for liability or 
relief in a proceeding, brought under any employment law or 
regulation, before any court or agency of the United States or 
of any State or locality.
``(e) Amendments to Labor Agreements and Benefit Plans.--Any 
amendment to a labor agreement or benefit plan of an air carrier that 
is required to conform with the requirements of this section or a 
regulation issued to carry out this section, and is applicable to 
pilots represented for collective bargaining, shall be made by 
agreement of the air carrier and the designated bargaining 
representative of the pilots of the air carrier.
``(f) Medical Standards and Records.--
``(1) Medical examinations and standards.--Except as 
provided by paragraph (2), a person serving as a pilot for an 
air carrier engaged in covered operations shall not be subject 
to different medical standards, or different, greater, or more 
frequent medical examinations, on account of age unless the 
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration determines 
(based on data received or studies published after the date of 
enactment of the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2025) that 
different medical standards, or different, greater, or more 
frequent medical examinations, are needed to ensure an adequate 
level of safety in flight.
``(2) Duration of first-class medical certificate.--No 
person who has attained 60 years of age may serve as a pilot of 
an air carrier engaged in covered operations unless the person 
has a first-class medical certificate. Such a certificate shall 
expire on the last day of the 6-month period following the date 
of examination shown on the certificate.
``(g) Safety Training.--Each air carrier engaged in covered 
operations shall continue to use pilot training and qualification 
programs approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.
``(h) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
further increasing the age limitation described in subsection (a).''.
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