Let Experienced Pilots Fly
NOTAM #11
“EXPERIENCE MATTERS”
July 18, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
As referenced in the NOTAM #10 – Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio from Senators Blackburn, Thune and Kelly urging leadership by the US in ICAO. This is critically important to our goal of having the international agency move forward on Working Paper 106, which could result in the needed change to forced retirement of 121 pilots at the arbitrary age of 65.
Here is the Senators’ letter, for your use when speaking with your state’s two US Senators during the August recess. IF YOU ARE A SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, or ARIZONA resident/pilot-constituent, please call the letter’s endorsers and thank them.
LEPF has been advocating for the filling of the ICAO Ambassador position without delay. We believe it is vital that the position be filled before the ICAO General Assembly in late September 2025.
We would like to congratulate retired Capt. Jeff Anderson on his nomination to ICAO Ambassador. As many of you know, Jeff served as a consultant to LEPF in 2024 and has our support.
LEPF has been a strong advocate to fill this position as we believe it is in the US’ best interest to take a stronger leadership role at ICAO, and not abdicate aviation leadership to China, and others.
Senators Blackburn, Thune, and Kelly have been staunch advocates of filling this two-year vacancy, as referenced in their letter to Secretary Rubio.
Capt. Anderson is a retired Delta Air Lines pilot, decorated Naval Aviator, and prior to retirement served ALPA in Legislative Affairs and Contract Negotiations Committees.
Experience Matters!
LEPF
P.S. Here are some links to news stories, including on our website, that may be of interest to you:
US senators urge Trump administration to back older retirement age for pilots | Reuters
Senators Press Trump Administration on Pilot Retirement Age | Politics
TN Sen. Blackburn among bipartisan effort to raise mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots
Senators Blackburn, Thune and Kelly Urge US Leadership at ICAO » Raise the Pilot Age
U.S. Senators Push to Raise International Pilot Retirement Age – EconoTimes
Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post
Trump Nominates Ex-Delta Pilot Jeffrey Anderson for ICAO Ambassador Role Amid Union Opposition – EconoTimes
