Rep. Troy E. Nehls, Aviation Subcommittee Chairman, Reintroduces the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act

September 19, 2025 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, reintroduced the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act , which would raise the retirement age of commercial pilots from 65 to 67, while still maintaining the same rigorous medical and training requirements all other pilots in the industry are expected to maintain. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , about 18,200 openings for airline and commercial pilots are projected each year, on average, over the decade.  The Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act will address the glaring pilot shortage that the United States is facing, ensuring that travelers don’t face flight cancellations due to the lack of pilots. “Addressing the pilot shortage is one of my top priorities in Congress,” said Congressman Nehls . “With air travel continuing to hit record highs, we must prioritize the safety and effectiveness of airline travel, and that begins by putting experienced pilots in the cockpits of commercial planes in the United States. The current mandated retirement age for commercial pilots is inherently arbitrary. “As the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) convenes on Tuesday, September 23, for its 42 nd Assembly, raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 for pilots undertaking multi-pilot international commercial air transport (CAT) operations is on the docket . Both House and Senate GOP leadership have expressed support for this initiative, as well as prominent aviation associations such as the Regional Airlines Association and International Air Transport Association (IATA). I encourage all of my colleagues to get on board and do the right thing for the American aviation industry by joining me in pushing my bill across the finish line to permanently codify my proposal.” Background Prior to 2007, the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots (Part 121) was 60 years old. After ICAO moved to raise the international standard from 60 to 65, the United States and other countries signed legislation into law that raised the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots to 65. Congressman Nehls first introduced the Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act in the 118 th Congress. The legislation was filed as an amendment to the 2023 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization, which overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 351-69 . Issues : Transportation And Infrastructure