Republic Airlines seeks exemption from 1,500h pilot rule to alleviate shortage
US regional carrier Republic Airways has filed for an exemption to pilot aeronautical experience requirements set by the FAA, in an effort to alleviate the pilot shortage. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based airline, which flies regional routes for American Airlines, Delta and United , wrote in a 15 April application to the Department of Transportation (DOT) that its rigorous selection process and structured pilot training programme make it comparable to a military pilot education. Therefore, its pilots would be highly-qualified to earn what’s known as a “Restricted Air Transport Pilot” (R-ATP) certificate with about half of the flight time usually required for civilians pilots to begin flying for commercial operators. “The requested exemption would allow selected civilian pilots who complete the rigorous Republic R-ATP programme to apply … for an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multi-engine airplane type rating with a minimum of 750 hours of total flight time as a pilot,” Republic writes. Military pilots aiming for a commercial aviation career only need 750h of total flight time to qualify for an airline job. Most other candidates require 1,500h. Collecting those hours is expensive and time consuming, creating a bottleneck in availability of new pilots that is not easily solved, say critics. Republic says in its application that once students are accepted into its programme they follow a “highly structured training curriculum where they train as a full-time employee”. “Within the programme, students will complete courses in advanced airline academics, complete command experience, receive a Republic mentor and complete supplemental advanced aviation training to help them better prepare for a career as an airline pilot,” the filing says. “To uphold the rigour of the training, students will be assessed and are required to pass multiple knowledge and skill validation gates throughout the programme life cycle. Failure to pass any gate will result in the student to be transitioned out of the Republic R-ATP Program and continue through the standard ATP pathway.”<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-05-10/unaligned/republic-airlines-seeks-exemption-from-1-500h-pilot-rule-to-alleviate-shortage
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Republic Airlines seeks exemption from 1,500h pilot rule to alleviate shortage
US regional carrier Republic Airways has filed for an exemption to pilot aeronautical experience requirements set by the FAA, in an effort to alleviate the pilot shortage. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based airline, which flies regional routes for American Airlines, Delta and United , wrote in a 15 April application to the Department of Transportation (DOT) that its rigorous selection process and structured pilot training programme make it comparable to a military pilot education. Therefore, its pilots would be highly-qualified to earn what’s known as a “Restricted Air Transport Pilot” (R-ATP) certificate with about half of the flight time usually required for civilians pilots to begin flying for commercial operators. “The requested exemption would allow selected civilian pilots who complete the rigorous Republic R-ATP programme to apply … for an airline transport pilot certificate concurrently with a multi-engine airplane type rating with a minimum of 750 hours of total flight time as a pilot,” Republic writes. Military pilots aiming for a commercial aviation career only need 750h of total flight time to qualify for an airline job. Most other candidates require 1,500h. Collecting those hours is expensive and time consuming, creating a bottleneck in availability of new pilots that is not easily solved, say critics. Republic says in its application that once students are accepted into its programme they follow a “highly structured training curriculum where they train as a full-time employee”. “Within the programme, students will complete courses in advanced airline academics, complete command experience, receive a Republic mentor and complete supplemental advanced aviation training to help them better prepare for a career as an airline pilot,” the filing says. “To uphold the rigour of the training, students will be assessed and are required to pass multiple knowledge and skill validation gates throughout the programme life cycle. Failure to pass any gate will result in the student to be transitioned out of the Republic R-ATP Program and continue through the standard ATP pathway.”<br/>
