H.R. 4161 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4161 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2023Mr. 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. 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 school. (2) Flight school The term flight school 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 flight schools and other industry stakeholders, shall establish an apprenticeship program with flight schools 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 school participating in the apprenticeship program established under subsection (b) may select up to 8 applicants to flight school 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 school 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 school 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 program established under this section, to become instructors at flight schools, including through the development of pathway programs for such pilots to gain initial qualification or concurrent qualification as certified flight instructors under part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations.