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To direct the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the potential expansion of pathways for graduates of civilian test pilot schools to serve as test pilots and flight test engineers in support of military testing activities, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress by January 1, 2027 on expanding pathways for civilian test pilot school graduates to serve in military testing activities
- Requires assessment of the current capacity of military and civilian test pilots to support military test activities by military department
- Requires assessment of the feasibility and advisability of modifying Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1D to authorize all graduates of accredited civilian test pilot schools to support military test activities
- Requires identification of an appropriate certification process for civilian test pilot schools to ensure graduates meet education and training requirements
- Requires assessment of potential benefits or risks associated with modifying Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1D
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
1 cosponsor
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to George Whitesides’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY $31,495
- GOOGLE LLC $27,766
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY $21,438
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $19,734
- MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL $16,400
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for George Whitesides → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jul 22, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. · house
- Jul 22, 2026 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2026
Mr. Whitesides (for himself and Mr. Obernolte) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the potential expansion of pathways for graduates of civilian test pilot schools to serve as test pilots and flight test engineers in support of military testing activities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Providing Increased Local Opportunities for Test-pilots Act” or the “PILOT Act”.
SEC. 2. REPORT ON EXPANSION OF PATHWAYS FOR CIVILIAN TEST PILOTS TO SUPPORT MILITARY TESTING ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.—Not later than January 1, 2027, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pathways available under Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1D for graduates of accredited civilian test pilot schools in the United States to serve as test pilots and flight test engineers in support of military testing activities.
(b) Elements.—The report required under subsection (a) shall include—
(1) an assessment of the current capacity of military and approved civilian test pilots to support military test activities, set forth separately by Armed Force;
(2) an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of modifying Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210- 1D to authorize all graduates of accredited civilian test pilot schools in the United States to support military test activities, including any potential benefits or risks associated with such a modification; and
(3) identification of an appropriate certification process for civilian test pilot schools in the United States to ensure that—
(A) graduates of such schools fully meet the education and training requirements stipulated in Defense Contract Management Agency Instruction 8210-1D; and
(B) the curriculum of such schools aligns with the curriculum of military test pilot schools. <all>
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