A U.S. House of Representatives committee on Wednesday, June 15, approved a bill that would raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67.
The bill, which was approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a vote of 32 to 31, is part of a larger bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as reported by Reuters.
The bill's supporters say that raising the retirement age will help to address the growing shortage of commercial airline pilots. The FAA estimates that there will be a shortage of 12,000 pilots by 2030.
Facing Opposition
The bill's opponents argue that raising the retirement age could lead to safety concerns, as older pilots may be more likely to experience health problems that could affect their ability to fly.
The bill now goes to the full House of Representatives for a vote. If it passes the House, it will go to the Senate for consideration.
Challenges to U.S. Aviation Industry
The aviation industry in the U.S. is facing a number of challenges in hiring and retaining pilots. One challenge is the aging workforce. The average age of a commercial airline pilot in the U.S. is over 45, and the number of pilots over the age of 60 is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
This is due to the fact that the retirement age for pilots has been set at 65, and many pilots are choosing to stay in the workforce longer.
Another one is the high cost of training. The cost of training to become a commercial airline pilot are high, and it can take several years to complete. Also, pilots often work long hours and may be required to work on weekends and holidays. This can be a challenge for pilots who have families or other commitments.
The aviation industry is cyclical, and there have been periods of time when there have been layoffs of pilots. Thus, it can be difficult for pilots to feel secure in their jobs.
Potential Safety Concerns
There are a number of potential safety concerns associated with raising the retirement age in the United States. One is the increased risk of health problems. As people age, they are more likely to experience health problems that could affect their ability to work safely.
For example, older workers may be more likely to have vision, hearing, or heart problems. These health problems could make it difficult for older workers to perform their jobs safely.
Another one is decreased reaction time that comes with aging. This could make it more difficult for older workers to react quickly to emergencies.
On Thursday, the Senate committee will discuss its version of the FAA proposal, which does not yet contain the increase in the minimum age for pilots.
The Regional Airline Association (RAA) applauded the increase in the minimum age for pilots, pointing out that 324 airports have, on average, lost a third of their air service and have more than 400 aircraft parked due to a pilot shortage.
