S. 4452

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4452 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4452

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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 30, 2026

Mr. Graham (for himself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

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''.

SEC. 2. INCREASED RETIREMENT AGE FOR PILOTS.

Section 44729 of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
``Sec. 44729. Age standards for pilots
``(a) In General.--A pilot may serve in multicrew covered 
operations described in subsection (b)(1) until attaining 67 years of 
age. Air carriers that employ pilots who serve in covered operations 
described in subsection (b)(2) may elect to implement an age 
restriction to prohibit employed pilots from serving in such covered 
operations after attaining 70 years of age by delivering written notice 
to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Such 
election--
``(1) shall take effect 1 year after the date of delivery 
of written notice of the election; and
``(2) may not be terminated after the date on which such 
election takes effect by the air carrier.
``(b) Covered Operations Defined.--In this section, the term 
`covered operations' means operations--
``(1) under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, unless the operation takes place in--
``(A) the territorial airspace of a foreign country 
where such operations are prohibited by the foreign 
country; or
``(B) international airspace where such operations 
are not in compliance with the Annexes to the 
Convention on International Civil Aviation; or
``(2) by a person that--
``(A) holds an air carrier certificate issued 
pursuant to part 119 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations, to conduct operations under part 135 of 
such title;
``(B) holds management specifications under subpart 
K of title 91 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; 
and
``(C) performed an aggregate total of at least 
75,000 turbojet operations in calendar year 2019 or any 
subsequent year.
``(c) Regulations.--On and after the date of enactment of the Let 
Experienced Pilots Fly Act, 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) Nonretroactivity.--No person who has attained 65 
years of age before the date of enactment of the Let 
Experienced Pilots Fly Act may serve as a pilot for an air 
carrier engaged in covered operations unless--
``(A) such person is in the employment of that air 
carrier in such operations on such date of enactment as 
a required flight deck crew member; or
``(B) such person is newly hired by an air carrier 
as a pilot on or after such date of enactment without 
credit for prior seniority or prior longevity for 
benefits or other terms related to length of service 
prior to the date of rehire under any labor agreement 
or employment policies of the air carrier.
``(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 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) 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.''.
<all>