H.R. 9889: Providing Increased Local Opportunities for Test-pilots Act

This bill would require the Secretary of Defense to prepare a report for Congress by January 1, 2027 about whether the military should expand opportunities for graduates of civilian test pilot schools to work as test pilots and flight test engineers for military testing activities.

What the report would cover

• Current staffing capacity: How many military test pilots and approved civilian test pilots are available to support testing, broken down by each military branch.
• Possible rule changes: Whether it would be feasible and advisable to change Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1D so that all graduates of accredited civilian test pilot schools in the United States could support military testing.
• Pros and risks: Any likely benefits or risks of making that change.
• Certification standards: What process should be used to certify civilian test pilot schools so the military can be confident that graduates meet the required education and training standards and that the civilian curriculum lines up with military test pilot training.

What the bill does not do

The bill does not itself change military testing rules or automatically open these roles to civilian test pilot school graduates. It only directs the Defense Department to study the issue and report back to Congress.

Relevant Companies

None found