Republic Airways Petitions FAA to Lower Pilot Minimums For Company's First Officers

If successful, the airline would be allowed to hire pilots with just 750 hours, half of the current requirement.

Michael Wildes

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 05:04 PM ET

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Republic Airlines argues that its proposal would make pilot careers more accessible. [Courtesy: Republic Airlines]

Key Takeaways:

Republic Airways has petitioned the FAA to lower the required flight hours for its Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) program from 1,500 to 750 hours.
The airline proposes a closed-loop training system through its LIFT Academy, asserting it would be a safer, civilian-focused alternative mirroring the military's 750-hour R-ATP pathway.
Republic argues the program would make airline pilot careers more accessible and affordable, particularly for underrepresented groups, by reducing training costs from an estimated $200,000 to $75,000.
Pilots completing the Republic R-ATP program would be restricted to exercising their R-ATP privileges only at Republic Airways until they meet the full 1,500-hour requirement for an unrestricted ATP.

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Regional carrier Republic Airways has petitioned the FAA to lower the required pilot minimums for its R-ATP program from 1,500 hours to 750.

Republic is headquartered in Indianapolis and flies on behalf of Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL), and United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL). The company applied on April 15 to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to lobby for its version of the restricted ATP.