Originally Posted by
SEGATAKI
The HR 5576 has been passed by the House raising the age 60 retirement age to age 65 in line with the ICAO rule which will change November 23, 2006. HR 5576 passed without Sec 114. The Senate has yet to vote on HR 5576. If passed by the Senate with Sec 114 included then HR 5576 will need to go to conference to harmonize the bills. If you want to track this bill and any future bills in the House or Senate got to
www.thomas.loc.gov and enter the bill number and you track any bill from start to finish.
There are several bills in Congress that would extent the retirement age for Part 121 pilots to age 65. Senate Bill S.65 is one such bill that would amend the mandatory retirement age of FAR Part 121 commercial air carrier pilots from age 60 to 65. Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) introduced Senate Bill S. 65 to reflect the age when Social Security benefits can begin. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has now approved S.65 with an amendment offered by Senators Conrad Burns (R-Montana) and Ted Stevens (R-Arkansas). This bill would coincide with the new international standard recently adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO, on March 11, 2006 voted to adopt age 65 as the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots. The new international ICAO age standard becomes effective on 23 November 2006. Bill S.65 now proceeds to the full Senate for its consideration.
There is a companion bill in House of Representatives, H.R.65 that was introduced by Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-Nevada). H.R.65 has 74 cosponsors. The Latest Major Action on H.R.65 was on 5 January 2005 when it was referred to House subcommittee on Aviation. H.R.65 I is still stuck in Committee without any sign of action.
The Latest Major Action for S.65 was on 30 March 2006 was when it was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders, Calendar No. 382. There are now 60 Senators who have said they would vote in favor of S.65 and only 51 YES votes are needed for it to pass. A vote is expected at any time. If and when S.65 passes in the Senate it is expected to pass easily and rapidly in the House of Representatives.
The International Civil Aviation Organization—ICAO, now recognizes the harm done by the age 60 rule standard and will amend the international standard to age 65, which should become applicable on 23 November 2006. The Burns substitute amendment to The U.S. Senate Bill S. 65, if voted into law by the U.S. Congress, would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary to adopt the ICAO standard or recommended practice within 30 days after the ICAO acts on the matter.