I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2182 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish an apprenticeship 
program for students at flight training providers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 18, 2025 
Mr. DONALDS (for himself, Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina, and Mr. NEHLS) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish an 
apprenticeship program for students at flight training 
providers, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pre-Pilot Pathway 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR PILOTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) 
APPRENTICE.—The 
term 
‘‘apprentice’’ 
means a student enrolled at a flight training pro-
vider. 
(2) FLIGHT
TRAINING
PROVIDER.—The term 
‘‘flight training provider’’ means a flight academy 
certified under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal 
Regulations. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with appropriate industry stakeholders and flight 
training providers who conduct flight training under part 
141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall estab-
lish an apprenticeship program to establish a pipeline of 
qualified and interested individuals to become commercial 
pilots. 
(c) SELECTION.—Under the apprenticeship program 
established under subsection (b), each flight training pro-
vider participating in the apprenticeship program estab-
lished under subsection (b) may select up to 8 applicants, 
or more if considered appropriate by the Secretary based 
upon the size and type of each participating flight training 
provider, to serve as apprentices each academic year. 
(d) CURRICULUM AND REQUIREMENTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—To graduate from an ap-
prenticeship program established under subsection 
(b), an apprentice shall satisfy any relevant require-
ments and minimum curriculum under part 141 of 
title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 
regulations), including all curriculum under subpart 
C of such part. 
(2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—Nothing in this 
Act prevents a flight training provider from impos-
ing additional requirements, such as modifying the 
terms of service of the apprenticeship program, on 
an apprentice taking part in an apprenticeship pro-
gram established pursuant to this section. 
(e) OPTIONAL PROGRAM.—A flight training provider 
may choose not to participate in an apprenticeship pro-
gram established under this section. 
(f) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
such regulations as are necessary to implement this Act. 
(g) INCENTIVIZING RETIRED PILOTS.—The Sec-
retary shall take such actions as may be appropriate to 
develop methods to incentivize pilots, including retired 
military pilots, retiring airline pilots, and graduates of the 
apprenticeship programs established under this section, to 
become instructors, mentors, or program advisors at par-
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ticipating flight training providers, including through the 
development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain 
initial qualifications or concurrent qualifications as cer-
tified flight instructors under part 61 or part 141 of title 
14, Code of Federal Regulations. 
(h) REPORTING AND EVALUATION.— 
(1) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall submit to 
Congress an annual report detailing apprentice 
progress, retention rates, and post-graduation em-
ployment outcomes under the program under this 
section. 
(2) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall conduct 
an annual review of the apprenticeship program’s ef-
fectiveness, including the impact on addressing pilot 
shortages. 
Æ 
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