FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Lauri-Ellen Smith, APR
raisethepilotage@gmail.com
904-219-0977
Social Media Influencer and Accomplished Navy/Commercial Pilot “Capt. Steeeve” Joins Let Experienced Pilots Fly Board of Directors
(Chicago, IL – November 14, 2025) – Late last month American Airlines pilot Captain Steve Scheibner concluded an exemplary 34-year career flying more than 12,000 hours as a commercial pilot. Prior to that, Scheibner flew for the US Navy on the P-3 Orion in three deployments and then in the Navy Reserve.
Many people know him as “Captain Steeeve”, the social media phenomenon who has reached more than half a million views with a single video explaining the intricacies of aviation in our modern world. (YouTube “Capt. Steeeve”)
From explaining what people can expect when flying, to sharing the specifics about events and adverse occurrences, like bad weather or other aviation events in the news, Scheibner has captured the attention of millions. His plain-spoken, sincere style, as he shares facts and knowledge that comes from 40+ years as an aviator is well known and respected.
The LEPF Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election of Captain Steve Scheibner to its nine-member leadership team. Scheibner also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and runs a family counseling service. He is a former church Pastor and the Scheibners reside in NC.
“I am especially proud to lead this board as its President,” said Captain Barry Kendrick, also a retired AA pilot forced out at age 65, by an ageist and discriminatory law. He continues to fly as a Captain on Boeing airliner-type aircraft in the same airspace and airports as major airlines, both domestic and international, for a corporate flight department.
“Captain Scheibner may well be the most recognizable LEPF member, as a social media influencer. He is a welcome addition to our outstanding Board. Along with all our thousands of members, this group represents the most experienced airline pilots in the world. Many are military trained. Many serve as line check airmen, making sure other pilots – especially those with far fewer hours flying – are doing it right and learning all the things that only experience can teach. As forced retirement at a far-too-early age of 65 throws away this experience and throws this skill off the flight deck, we are replaced by those who were promised too-rapid career advancement and seniority.
“I’m proud to walk the halls of Congress, meeting with legislators and sitting down with regulators, shoulder to shoulder with this Board and our members. We won’t stop until our battle, now in its third year, to either eliminate or raise the mandatory airline pilot age of 65 is accomplished. Our work with legislative and regulatory leaders will not be successful until this solution is passed and the root problem with the growing pilot experience shortage is addressed. It is time for the United States to be the world leader in aviation. We must support the right to work for the safest, most experienced pilots on the flight deck as long as they want to work and their rigorous testing validates their skills and competencies,” Kendrick said.
“The experience gap is growing to a point of potential harm to our flying public, and we are grateful for ‘Captain Steeeve’s’ expertise within our ranks.
“America’s traveling public deserves and expects the most experienced pilots on the flight deck. Experience cannot be taught. Experience is learned, over time, from seasoned captains mentoring their co-pilots.
“The burden of proof should be on the agencies that restrict the pilot license privileges at a certain age, to justify why they do so, because EXPERIENCE MATTERS!” Kendrick added.
For more information about Let Experienced Pilots Fly, Inc and its political action committee – please visit raisethepilotage.com. The organization is a 501(C)(6) not for profit organization and membership is open to anyone who joins or donates online.
*Non-commercial pilots in the US can fly beyond age 65, as long as they are healthy, choose to fly, and can pass the rigorous medical and cognitive tests required of all aviators. This point further illustrates the arbitrary and capriciousness of the antiquated law forcing retirement of commercial pilots at 65 – the law LEPF seeks to eliminate or change.
Captain Steve Scheibner, recently retired American Airlines Captain and Social Media favorite who educates the public about flying and aviation, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Let Experienced Pilots Fly, Inc (LEPF). This is the nation’s first and largest coalition of airline pilots dedicated to eliminating or at least changing the antiquated law that forces these most experienced professionals to retire at an arbitrary age (currently 65).
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