Pre-Pilot Pathway Act

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 4161 To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish an apprenticeship program for students at flight schools, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 15, 2023 Mr. DONALDS (for himself, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. MANN, Mr. NEHLS, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. SANTOS, and Ms. MACE) 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 schools, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pre-Pilot Pathway 4 Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR PILOTS. 6 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 7 (1) APPRENTICE.—The term ‘‘apprentice’’ 8 means a student enrolled at a flight school. 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:01 Jul 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4161.IH H4161 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 4161 IH (2) FLIGHT SCHOOL.—The term ‘‘flight school’’ 1 means a flight academy certified under part 141 of 2 title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 3 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 4 the Secretary of Transportation. 5 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in consulta- 6 tion with flight schools and other industry stakeholders, 7 shall establish an apprenticeship program with flight 8 schools to establish a pipeline of qualified and interested 9 individuals to become commercial pilots. 10 (c) SELECTION.—Under the apprenticeship program 11 established under subsection (b), each flight school partici- 12 pating in the apprenticeship program established under 13 subsection (b) may select up to 8 applicants to flight 14 school to serve as apprentices each academic year. 15 (d) CURRICULUM AND REQUIREMENTS.— 16 (1) IN GENERAL.—To graduate from an ap- 17 prenticeship program established under subsection 18 (b), an apprentice shall satisfy any relevant require- 19 ments and minimum curriculum under part 141 of 20 title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor 21 regulations), including all curriculum under subpart 22 C of such part. 23 (2) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.—Nothing in this 24 Act prevents a flight school from imposing additional 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:01 Jul 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4161.IH H4161 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 4161 IH requirements, such as modifying the terms of service 1 of the apprenticeship program, on an apprentice tak- 2 ing part in an apprenticeship program established 3 pursuant to this section. 4 (e) OPTIONAL PROGRAM.—A flight school may 5 choose not to participate in an apprenticeship program es- 6 tablished under this section. 7 (f) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after the 8 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 9 such regulations as are necessary to implement this Act. 10 (g) INCENTIVIZING RETIRED PILOTS.—The Sec- 11 retary shall take such actions as may be appropriate to 12 develop methods to incentivize pilots, including retired 13 military pilots, retiring airline pilots, and graduates of the 14 apprenticeship program established under this section, to 15 become instructors at flight schools, including through the 16 development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain 17 initial qualification or concurrent qualification as certified 18 flight instructors under part 61 of title 14, Code of Fed- 19 eral Regulations. 20 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:01 Jul 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H4161.IH H4161 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS