House lawmakers are set to consider a compromise provision that would establish mandatory age-70 retirement for NetJets pilots. Offered by Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), the provision is among more than 240 proposed amendments to comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation, H.R.4, that the House Rules Committee will sort through later today in preparation for full floor action. The Rules Committee will decide which of the amendments can be offered once the bill reaches the House floor, possibly tomorrow.

The Gibbs provision marks a carefully crafted retirement mandate that has the backing of both NetJets and its pilot union, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP). While it doesn’t specify NetJets, the mandate would apply to pilots at Part 135 and 91K operators that perform at least 150,000 turbojet operations in a calendar year. The number of operations and the narrowing to jet operations is believed to ensure that other operators—such as offshore providers or medevac companies—do not inadvertently get caught up in such a new mandate.

Importantly, the measure would provide a year phase-in period. The measure is believed to have evolved from an original push for an age-65 mandate that applied to 100,000 operations. As written, the measure would affect about 75 pilots, NJASAP told AIN.

NetJets has pushed for the cap, saying, “The lack of a pilot age restriction for large private air carriers is a growing concern in aviation safety…Such a restriction is an important safety measure for private carriers whose flight operations are comparable in size and complexity to their commercial counterparts.“ NetJets called the amendment a “common-sense regulation that will make air travel safer for everyone."

NJASAP, which came on board after changes were made to the proposed amendment, noted the complexity of the issue and varying positions of pilots. Many pilots do not support a rigid age-65 rule, but, according to a communication released to NJASAP members late last night, a number also believe “there is a point at which a pilot should step away from the profession.”

Older pilots, meanwhile, have been concerned about having adequate time to make the necessary financial preparations to retire, especially if mandated earlier than anticipated. “While the decision to support an age-70 rule is not ideal, it is the compromise position that gets NJASAP as close as possible to addressing membership concerns,” the union communication said.