Senate Unanimously Approves Change to Pilot Retirement Age Limit
Legislation awaits President’s signature to become law

December 12, 2007 - Just one day after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.4343 , a bill that would raise the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots to 65, the U.S. Senate followed suit tonight when it approved the same piece of legislation by unanimous consent—meaning that no senator objected.

“ALPA has worked very hard from the beginning of this process to make sure that the recommendations of the Executive Board—which were intended to protect our pilots—were included in any age change,” said ALPA President Capt. John Prater. “I am gratified to report to our members tonight that this legislation reflects the direction of the Board.”

The bill now goes to the U.S. President for his signature, which will make it law. The timing for this has yet to be determined.