FAA denies regional airline's request to hire certain pilots with fewer flight hours

The second-largest regional airline will not be allowed to move forward with a plan to hire pilots with fewer hours.

Republic Airways was denied an exemption from the FAA that would have allowed it to hire graduates from its flight training academy.

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Republic operates Embraer E170s and E175s for several airlines. The LIFT Academy teaches students from zero hours of flight time. Republic argued that the graduates of LIFT Academy were trained in a similar fashion to the U.S. military. A restricted Airline Transport Pilot certificate is available to military veterans.

The FAA found that the Republic R-ATP Program is not comparable to the training program of a military branch to warrant a reduction in flight hours.

1,500 flight hours are required to receive an airline transport pilot certificate for pilots who aren't eligible for one of the existing R-ATP pathways.

There is a shortage of pilots in regional airlines. The FAA's Locke denied that the 1,500-hour rule was one of the causes of the pilot shortage.

She wrote that the FAA doesn't have the authority to regulate because of a perceived shortage of pilots.

The FAA is asked to allow it to hire pilots with less experience.

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Many pilots are forced to take low-paying jobs with bad training contracts that have financially disadvantageous terms or become flight instructors to bridge the gap between when a pilot receives a commercial license and when they're eligible for an apprenticeship. Republic argued that the long slog makes the pilot workforce less diverse and that the FAA disagreed with that.

Locke wrote that lowering pilot qualifications through the exemption process is not the right way to find talent from diverse communities.

The Air Line Pilots Association, the union that represents pilots at many regionals, led the opposition to the exemption, which was supported by both Republic and the FAA. Republic would be compromising safety had it been allowed to go ahead with the exemption, according to the ALPA. The regional industry did not agree with the claims.

The story will be updated after TPG reached out to Republic.

The Regional Airline Association, which represents regional airlines in D.C., believes training protocols could be updated despite the FAA's decision.

The FAA's response is expected to be reviewed by the RAA. Flight training must continue to advance.