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:
- A new amendment in the FAA Reauthorization Act (HR 4) proposes mandatory age 65 retirement for certain Part 135 charter and Part 91K fractional pilots.
- The amendment is specifically written to affect only NetJets, which pilots claim is a cost-saving measure by management to force out older, more expensive pilots.
- Critics, including AARP and affected pilots, argue that age-based retirement is discriminatory, not safety-related, and that pilots should be judged on individual ability and health.
- Concerns have been raised that this arbitrary regulation could set a precedent for other aviation sectors and potentially worsen the growing pilot shortage.
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