House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster failed in his bid to privatize ATC, but pilots for fractional giant NetJets say the Pennsylvania lawmaker has another trick up his sleeve: mandatory age 65 retirement for certain Part 135 charter and Part 91K fractional pilots, written into the FAA reauthorization bill now before Congress. Pilots claim the new demand came after a specific request by NetJets management.
NetJets Pilots Cry Foul over Age 65 Retirement Rule
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 includes a provision for mandatory age 65 retirement for certain Part 135 and Part 91K fractional pilots, specifically affecting NetJets.
- Pilots allege this amendment was introduced by Congressman Shuster at the behest of NetJets management to cut costs by forcing out hundreds of older, higher-paid pilots, rather than for safety reasons.
- The provision is strongly opposed by affected pilots and groups like AARP, who argue it's age discrimination and an unnecessary regulation that could exacerbate the pilot shortage and potentially extend to other business aviation operations.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
