US Senate Committee Advances Aviation Safety Measures, Holds Off on Pilot Retirement Age Increase

The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation made significant strides in aviation safety legislation on Thursday, opting to enhance Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staffing levels and mandate 25-hour cockpit voice recorders on aircraft. However, it stopped short of supporting an increase in the airline pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, a proposal previously passed by the House of Representatives.

The committee’s decision came after the FAA expressed a preference for further research before any adjustments to the retirement age were made. This decision aligns with current international aviation standards, which restrict pilots over the age of 65 from operating flights in most countries outside the US.

The Senate’s bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 seeks to address safety concerns highlighted by recent aviation incidents, including a notable emergency with an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9. Part of the legislation’s focus is to align US cockpit voice recording standards with those in Europe, extending the current two-hour requirement to 25 hours as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The proposed $107 billion five-year FAA bill includes measures to mitigate a shortage of air traffic controllers by hiring additional inspectors, engineers, and technical specialists. It also proposes to increase the maximum civil penalties for airline consumer violations from $25,000 to $75,000.

Further provisions in the Senate bill aim to enhance passenger experience, such as prohibiting airlines from charging fees for families to sit together and extending the validity of vouchers and credits to at least five years. However, it eschews stricter consumer protection measures advocated by the Biden administration.

Industry response to the bill has been positive, with Airlines for America commending the committee’s approach to avoiding policies that could negatively impact consumer costs and airline operations.

As the Senate and House versions of the bill differ, reconciliation will be necessary. This legislative effort underscores a commitment to improving aviation safety and efficiency while fostering innovation in the sector, including the development of air taxis, hypersonic planes, and unmanned aircraft.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, FAA.org, reuters.com