Ok so I misquoted you and meant to quote the other kool aid drinker. Until you both can produce some hard data showing that 141 collegiate program flight students are superior pilots, my point still stands. If you can’t, then take a walk.

Nah my guy. There’s actually something wrong with you. I’ll say it slower for you: 141… pilots… are… not… better… than… 61 pilots. And I never said they were. So by your “you both” statement, you can take that and stick it where the sun don’t shine.

There’s no data to produce. Only experiences. Which you only have one side of. Go take a walk into an AABI accredited institution and then come back and share your experience.

Nobody said 141 pilots are better…. Otherwise, point to the quote that says otherwise.

https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/...148574.article

Well this happened. Wonder if others will follow suit, and if it has any chance of going through.


Edit: Since this has a paywall, basically YX is looking to get the hour requirement reduced to 750 for students from Republic’s LIFT academy. Not for anyone off the street apparently.

I really doubt it to be honest. With the current regulations in effect, I don’t see them reducing them in the foreseeable future. There’s a reason they’ve been put there in the first place. Either way, even if they did consider their request, none of that would be finalized for a long time considering the pace the FAA typically works at and all of the legal implications that go with it.

If the regionals are having trouble retaining pilots they should increase their wages, not plead to the FAA to reduce legal hour requirements so that they can get more people faster. That’s typically how competitive industries work.

Yeah, doubt it. They're trying to make the case that their puppy mil is equivalent to mil training + 500 hours of operational mil flying. Uphill battle.

It’s actually kind of funny that Republic thinks the FAA would even consider that request, let alone comply and implement it promptly LOL

https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2022-0535-0001

here is the request.

I don’t think any politician is going to risk signing off on something that implies a reduction in safety.

Especially considering this “1500 hour” rule was created so recently. It would be different if the rule was 50+ years old and they could argue advances in training/equipment/procedures make it obsolete.

Not the case. Additionally, all of the families from the Colgan crash are still around to show up to the court hearing if this rule was to be challenged (yes, I realize that both of those pilots had 1500+ hours, but that crash still seems to be the poster child for inexperienced pilots getting in over their heads.)

RPA seeks 1500 hr exemption
 

US regional carrier Republic Airways has filed for an exemption to pilot aeronautical experience requirements set by the Federal Aviation Administration, in an effort to alleviate the pilot shortage.

The Indianapolis, Indiana-based airline, which flies regional routes for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, 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.”

The programme, to be carried out at Republic’s own flight school, Leadership In Flight Training (LIFT) Academy, “is designed to meet or exceed the safety of the military R-ATP. In addition, this programme will support aspiring aviators from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in aviation,” Republic writes.

Republic Airways, which operates a fleet of 200 Embraer 170s and E175s and offers scheduled passenger service with nearly 1,000 daily flights to 100 cities in 40 US states, did not immediately respond to a request for information about the proposal.

SOURCE:
https://www.flightglobal.com/safety/...148574.article