The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted in favor of raising the pilot retirement age from 65 to 67 as the sector sees shortages. The proposed measure would be included in the FAA programs reauthorization legislation. "It's a modest increase, but that gives us some time for long-term solutions to take shape," said the president of the Regional Airline Association, Faye Malarkey Black. - In 2007, Congress raised the retirement age for pilots from 60 to 65.
- The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents pilots at Delta and United Airlines, among others, opposes the proposed age increase for reportedly not consulting agencies responsible for safety, calling it "a politically driven choice that betrays a fundamental understanding of airline industry operations."
- The proposal would require a vote by the full House and companion legislation by the Senate.
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