The PILOT Act directs the Secretary of Defense to study whether the military can expand its use of civilian test pilots and flight test engineers to support military testing activities. The report, due to Congress by January 1, 2027, must assess the current capacity of military and civilian test pilots across each branch of the armed forces, evaluate the feasibility of allowing all graduates from accredited U.S. civilian test pilot schools to work on military projects, and recommend a certification process to ensure civilian schools meet the same standards as military test pilot schools. This legislation would potentially create new career pathways for graduates of civilian aviation schools by allowing them to contribute to Department of Defense testing programs. The bill affects defense contractors, civilian test pilot schools, and the military branches that conduct aircraft and equipment testing, though no specific funding is allocated in this initial legislation.