Pilots’ Unions Reiterate Issues With Training, Retirement Age Proposals

The three largest U.S. pilots’ unions, spotlighting their key issues ahead of Congress’ expected talks on an FAA reauthorization bill, reiterated their now-familiar position against any proposals that would change first officer (FOs) training standards or raise the mandatory retirement age from 65.

In an open letter to Congress and President Joe Biden, the Allied Pilots Association, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, called out two specific proposals floated at the committee level but not yet as part of bills that will be voted on. One would count simulator time or other structured courses as flight hours for FOs in training. The other would boost mandatory retirement to age 67.

In both cases, the proposals target making more pilots available sooner or for longer at a time when airlines need them. But the unions contend the changes would swap safety—and in the case of FO training, standards set by the FAA in 2013 after lengthy industry deliberation—for convenience.

“Today’s requirements are the product of the collaborative efforts of the FAA and a cross-section of aviation industry subject-matter experts that have served the airline industry and the traveling public well for more than a decade and should not be relaxed,” the unions said. “Similarly, the current 65 mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots is supported by data and conforms with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Those advocating for raising the retirement age have not produced sufficient data relating to the safety implications of such a change.”

The unions also urged lawmakers not to permit one of the issues to go into a full reauthorization bill as part of inevitable negotiations set to get underway as soon as this week. Some senators considered at least one compromise that included expanding the 2013 FAA FO training rule’s pilot pathways.

Pilots’ stance against any flight-hour credits aligns with the public positions from both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—both ALPA-represented shops. ICAO’s recommended standards allow for far fewer flight hours than the FAA’s rule and support competency-based training, which many countries use. 

On the age rule, some in the U.S. see allowing pilots to fly for two more years as a way to stem departures from the top end of commercial flight crew rosters. But such a change would bring complications, such as laws in other countries that mandate retirement at the ICAO-recommended age 65. 

The unions and the Biden administration, whose stance has been communicated by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, are against raising the age limit. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the carrier’s official position is not to take one. 

“We don’t have a point of view on that,” he said on a recent earnings call. “I think that’s something that within the pilot community, there’s a lot of different opinions around. So, we’ll stand by and observe and watch how that discussion unfolds.”

The unions reject the idea that there are too few pilots. They also contend that ensuring communities retain air service is among their priorities. 

“The pilots we represent support fully funding the FAA and want to see that all communities have access to safe, reliable air service,” the unions said. “To that end, we have proposed ways to address the post-pandemic demand for pilots, including expediting the return to work for pilots awaiting medical re-clearance from the FAA and reducing the financial barriers to professional pilot careers.”

One tactic not being considered is relaxing scope clauses that would permit more regional-aircraft flying at lower wages—and lower costs to operators and passengers. The lack of action is leading to losses of air service at smaller communities, the Regional Airline Association (RAA) contends.

“Air service across the country is disappearing due to a shortage of airline pilots,” RAA President Faye Malarkey Black wrote in a June 21 letter to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation members. “Today, 42 U.S. states have much less air service than before the pandemic. Network carriers have exited 73 markets since 2019, under a debilitating loss of regional lift ... 321 airports have lost air service, on average, losing 26% of their flights ... 61 airports have lost more than half their flights and 16 airports have lost all flights.”