Strategic Assessment

Raise the Age Strategic Assessment - 6.24.25 

No matter the avenue of first relief that eventually comes, in the end, federal legislation is necessary to permanently secure any raising of the pilot age standard. That requires congressional interest, political support and a legislative vehicle. The latter two are self-explanatory, while congressional interest is a matter of what legislators have “got to do” (procedurally or practically) and/or a product of public excitement. 

It is instructive to tabulate today’s conditions relative to those which existed at the defeat of the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act in FAA Reauthorization last year. 

In April, 2024 the elements of congressional interest and a legislative vehicle were both realized in the renewal requirement of FAA Reauthorization. Political support was turned artificially partisan through ALPA’s leveraging of congressional Democrats in a presidential election year (especially Senate Democrats, where they held the controlling majority). Public excitement about the issue was limited. 

By the same technical analysis, raising the pilot retirement age currently has neither congressional interest, nor vehicle, nor public excitement. It does have quiescent bipartisan support, and the benefit of bicameral Republican majorities that are identified as being in favor of the initiative. This situation calls for a strategic approach tailored to create the conditions for legislation in a reasonably short term.

On balance, support exists in the international community for raising the international transport pilot age standard, something on which the U.S. has been mute, tacitly signaling its being opposed. But President Trump and the congressional majorities in both houses support the move, making it a reasonable possibility that America could 1. jump in to drive ICAO action, which would then, 2. place a “gotta do” before Congress, availing 3. the existing political support. At that point, 4. the legislative vehicle, could then be a simple attachment to an EOFY (September) omnibus or other bill in motion. 

Right now, two organizations are, in different ways and at different levels of energy, working those points. Experienced Pilots Advancing Safety (EPAS), having engineered the new strategy, are progressing well on raising the matter of appointing a U.S. Ambassador to ICAO and in so doing, solidifying standing and developing new Legislative and Executive Branch relationships that will also be critical to getting the domestic law changed. The legacy group Let Experienced Pilots Fly (LEPF) remains in touch with a narrow band of prior contacts from last year’s FAA Reauthorization campaign and is seeking to resuscitate an independent bill to raise the age (an article that might at least prove useful downline when it comes time for that domestic harmonization by Congress). 

All-in-all, it must be accepted that the matter of updating the pilot retirement age is small potatoes on the federal plate, especially right now. That doesn’t mean it can’t be moved up the docket. It just means that it needs to be done wisely, tactfully, and with singular, dedicated focus.