Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act

Lindsey Graham

Republican · SC · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Mark Kelly (D-AZ)Original· 2026-04-30
• Chuck Grassley (R-IA)· 2026-05-11

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

2026-04-30

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would increase the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots, allowing them to work longer before being forced to retire. Currently, pilots must stop flying at age 65, but this change would extend that deadline, potentially addressing pilot shortages in the aviation industry while affecting when experienced pilots leave their jobs and how airlines manage their workforce.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[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>

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