On Thursday, the U.S. House voted on a third extension of the FAA Reauthorization bill formally called the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2024.
The extension, which initially expired March 8, will now give lawmakers until May 10 to decide on a long-term bill for the FAA. Approved by the House in a bipartisan 409-13 vote, the bill will now be sent to the Senate and then to the president for final approval.
While the five-year reauthorization overwhelmingly passed the House in July with bipartisan support, the bill has been stalled in the Senate for months, namely over disagreements on the pilot retirement age and training requirements.
Once the Senate considers the bill, Congress can begin hashing out the differences in both versions and pass a long-term resolution.
Several industry groups and members of Congress have expressed frustration with the Senate’s inaction. In a December statement, House leadership said, “The Senate must promptly act on a long-term bill, as a series of short-term extensions hamstrings FAA operations, maintains outdated policies, and fails to provide critical policy updates for aviation safety, efficiency, innovation, and more.”
Once again, Congress did what it does best: Procrastination. 😑
They’re politicians, it’s what they do….
Given the recent news stories on AvWeb some of the major the airlines have more than sufficient new pilots, maybe the age extension from 65 yo 67 should be dropped.
Seems like the post-Covid pilot shortage necessitating a raising of the age limit to 67 has abated.
So regardless of health, mental acuity, skill or experience toss them to the street on their birthday? Strenuous medical and mental testing not an arbitrary number is what is needed.
It’s not so much there is a shortage of pilots, it’s the fact that one year or less FO should not be upgrading to Captain and that is what is happening. The age 65 to 67 will give the FO more experience in the seat to be better captains.
And in 2 years you have the same problem.
ATC’s mandatory retirement age is 56!
Why is it that everyone in this country is expected to do their jobs except our government? When will they run out of cans to kick down the calendar?