HR2182-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Pre-Pilot Pathway Act.

2. Apprenticeship program for pilots In this section: The term apprentice means a student enrolled at a flight training provider. The term flight training provider means a flight academy certified under part 141 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation. 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. 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. 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. 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. A flight training provider may choose not to participate in an apprenticeship program established under this section. 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. 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. 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. The Secretary shall conduct an annual review of the apprenticeship program’s effectiveness, including the impact on addressing pilot shortages.