Republic requests an exemption to 1,500-flying hours rule: Travel Weekly

The DOT is being asked to grant an exception to the rule that requires pilots to log 1,500 hours of flight time before flying for a commercial airline.

Republic, which operates American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express in partnership with the Big Three U.S. carriers, argued in an April 14 application to the DOT that pilot trainees who complete a tailored Air Transport Pilot (ATP) training program at the carrier are more likely to fly with

If approved, the Lift Academy ATP program would be the first nonmilitary or nonacademic flight training program to receive relief from the 1,500-hour rule. Under current regulations, graduates of four-year university pilot training academies can become a commercial airline co-pilot with 1,000 hours of flight time, while graduates of two-year college flight training programs can become a commercial pilot with 1,250 hours of flight time. The consideration given to military pilot trainees, who become eligible for the co-pilot seat on a commercial airline after 750 hours, matches the exemption requests of Republic.

Republic argued in its DOT application that the rigorous curriculum and structure of its proposed training program would exceed the safety standards of the military training program.

• Related: It's time to rethink the pilot-training rules (Wheels up)

An acute U.S. pilot shortage has led to rapid turnover at regional airlines as pilots are hired away by higher paying mainline carriers. The shortage has caused American, Delta and United to pull back on the regional aircraft routes that they operate in conjunction with Republic.

Republic did not mention the pilot shortage in its application. The public benefits from the chance to make a difference in the shortage of women and minority pilots in the U.S. The carrier said that just 9% of the certificate holders are women, and that certification can cost $200,000 in some cases.

Lack of progress toward diversity of cockpit participation calls for a renewed commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. The application reads that this is a broken line.

A controversial proposal

Regional airlines are trying to ease the 1,500-hour rule. Prior to 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266 800-381-0266

The 1,500-hour rule is unpopular. The rule was put in place after the crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 near Buffalo, N.Y., which killed all 49 passengers and crew as well as one person on the ground.

The rule has received strong support from the Air Line Pilots Association union, family members of the Colgan crash victims, and legislators from both parties.