House Speaker Mike Johnson is asking the Senate to vote on a measure to let US commercial pilots fly at older ages, according to a letter seen by Bloomberg Government.
Johnson (R-La.) sent the letter, dated May 2, to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) supporting a Senate vote on an amendment increasing pilot retirement age. The measure would be attached to sweeping aviation legislation (
Supporters of the retirement age effort say it’s needed to ease concerns of a nationwide pilot shortage. Labor groups such as the Air Line Pilots Association have been lobbying against a boost to the age, which created division among some pilots who are pushing lawmakers to support the measure.
Bid to Let Pilots Fly Until 67 Gets New Look Amid Travel Woes
Key committee negotiators in the House and Senate released a long-awaited compromise bill last week to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, which retained the current commercial pilot retirement age of 65. The amendment from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) would add the provision to the bill raising the age to 67. The speaker’s office confirmed the letter’s authenticity to Bloomberg Government.
The Senate returns Tuesday after leaving for the weekend without an agreement on whether to allow members to vote on adding amendments to the underlying legislation. Congress is under a time crunch since the two chambers would need to pass the bill before the agency’s current authority and ability to collect taxes expires Friday.
Sweeping Aviation Deal Reached to Update FAA, Boost Safety
The House-passed FAA bill included an increase to the commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, but the Senate’s committee-passed version didn’t include the language.
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