Earlier this year, Republic Airways (a regional carrier for American, Delta, and United Airlines) filed a petition with the FAA for an exemption to the ‘1,500 hour rule’ that required all airline pilots to have flown a minimum of 1,500 hours before being eligible to occupy a seat in an airliner. Today, the FAA denied that petition.
The rule was implemented by congress after a 2009 crash of Colgan Air flight 3407. The Dash-8-400 commuter aircraft’s crew lacked sufficient experience for the conditions and scenario at the time of the crash. In the wake of the crash, a push to increase the level of experience in the cockpit led to a number of changes that included the implementation of the 1,500 hour rule.
Republic Attempted to Side Step The Regulation With An In-House Training Program
Over the past decade, the demand for pilots has risen dramatically. At the same time, the increased training requirements, combined with a wave of early pilot retirement due to COVID has led to a drastic shortage of pilots. This problem is acutely affecting regional airlines like Republic as current regional pilots move up to the major carriers to fill vacant spots. Even massive payscale raises (as some regionals and startups have done lately) have not been enough to stem the losses.
Amongst that backdrop is where Republic proposed an exemption. In their proposal, they stated that they would start a flight school with military-like standards training for prospective pilots. In exchanged for the higher-level quality of training, they asked for relief from the 1,500 hour rule. Republic asked to reduce that number to 750 hours as part of the Lift Academy program.
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FAA’s Ruling
In the denial released by the FAA, the agency said that “Republic’s exemption process is not the avenue to address the hiring difficulties of an operator that may result in service cuts to particular areas. The FAA continues to consider the greater public interest ensuring that the level of safety provided by the foundation of an integrated aviation education required by § 61.160 is maintained.”
This statement effectively means that Republic’s Lift Academy’s curriculum and plan are not sufficient to overcome the risks that the FAA (and thereby the traveling public) would undertake as a result of the exemption.
What The FAA Didn’t Address
The ruling is relatively narrow in scope but it also does not cite any clear path to solve the issue. The FAA did acknowledge that the 1,500 hour rule is not fool proof and that the quality of training within those 1,500 hours could vary. They also acknowledged the pilot shortage and the challenge that this rule has created.
However, they didn’t offer any alternative to the current rule or a direct way forward. This ruling is one to be celebrated by current airline pilots who are enjoying record demand for their services and thus increases in wages. Conversely, it is another roadblock to regional airlines who are looking for numerous ways to stem the outflow of pilots from their ranks.
The issues presented in the ruling are complex. And its an issue that isn’t likely to go away anytime soon barring a large economic downturn that crushes demand for travel. You can read the full 15 page ruling here.
