Local Congressman Mike Kelly is proposing a new bill that he says could help address the shortage of pilots.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act. The bill would add FAA-certified commercial pilot training as a qualified expense for 529 Plans.
Kelly says the airline industry has been experiencing a shortage of pilots for years.
“By making training more affordable, not only can we hire more pilots, but we can also provide more flights – both domestically and internationally – to fully serve airports like Erie International Airport, which has lost critical air service in recent years due in part to the skilled labor shortage,” Kelly said in a statement.
He also announced the legislation comes as United Airlines announced they would not operate out of the Erie Airport—which falls in his district.
