Republic Recruitment Targets Captains
New hire pilots accepted for Republic Airways’ new pilot-recruitment program will likely be captains in a year or so and the airline expects them to stay in the job for at least two years lest they face a major financial penalty. The airline says it’s only hiring relatively high time FOs so they can quickly transition to the left seat. Major airlines have been poaching the most experienced regional pilots for several years and that’s created a major shortage of aircraft commanders. Republic wants to restock its roster of captains but it also doesn’t want to lose them immediately after training. It’s insisting new hires for the program sign a contract that requires them to pay $100,000 in “liquidated damages” if they leave before three years is up and prohibits them from working for a competing airline for at least a year after their departure. The Teamsters Union, which represents the pilots, says the plan will backfire and will deter pilots from applying to Republic.
