The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has denied Republic Airways request of reducing the 1,500 minimum flight hours for its ATPL pilots to half for its airline pilot pathway program (and to recognized as equivalent to U.S. military pilot training).

The regulator said “[…] determined that the airline’s new training program does not provide an equivalent level of safety as the regulation requiring 1,500 hours of flight experience before a pilot may work for an airline.”

In April, Republic Airways submitted a formal letter request to FAA. In July, the FAA started its review on the request. Several associations showed their dissent to the request including Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

Photo Credit: Republic Airways

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