Pre-Pilot Pathway Act

Bill: 119-hr-2182
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
Introduced: 2025-03-18
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Latest action: action_date: 2025-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-03-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Pre-Pilot Pathway Act </strong></p><p>This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish an apprenticeship program with flight training providers (e.g., flight schools) in order to establish a commercial pilot pipeline; DOT must issue any necessary regulations to implement the program within one year of the bill's enactment.</p><p>Each flight training provider participating in the program may select up to eight applicants (or more applicants based on a determination by DOT) per academic year to serve as apprentices.</p><p>DOT must take appropriate actions to develop methods to incentivize pilots, including retired pilots, to become flight school instructors, mentors, or program advisors at participating flight training providers. This includes developing pathway programs for pilots to gain initial qualifications or concurrent qualifications as certified flight instructors.</p><p>Further, DOT must conduct an annual review of the apprenticeship program’s effectiveness, including the impact on addressing pilot shortages.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2182 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pre-Pilot Pathway Act . 2. Apprenticeship program for pilots (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Apprentice The term apprentice means a student enrolled at a flight training provider. (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 consultation with appropriate industry stakeholders and flight training providers who conduct flight training under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall establish 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 provider participating in the apprenticeship program established 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 (1) In general To graduate from an apprenticeship program established under subsection (b), an apprentice shall satisfy any relevant requirements 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 imposing additional requirements, such as modifying the terms of service of the apprenticeship program, on an apprentice taking part in an apprenticeship program established pursuant to this section. (e) Optional program A flight training provider may choose not to participate in an apprenticeship program 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 Secretary 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 participating flight training providers, including through the development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain initial qualifications or concurrent qualifications as certified 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 employment outcomes under the program under this section. (2) Evaluation The Secretary shall conduct an annual review of the apprenticeship program’s effectiveness, including the impact on addressing pilot shortages.