Airlines
FAA Denies Republic’s Proposed Exemption from 1,500-hr Rule
Republic Airways’ proposal to reduce its first officer flight time requirements from 1,500 to 750 hours meets with stiff resistance from the FAA.
A Republic Airways Embraer E170 prepares to take off from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport in 2018. (Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by airlines470)
A Republic Airways Embraer E170 prepares to take off from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport in 2018. (Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by airlines470)

The FAA on Monday denied Indianapolis-based Republic Airways' request for an exemption to the rule that requires 1,500 hours of flying time for air transport first officers. In its ruling, the FAA found that Republic’s proposal for a 750-flight-hour threshold as part of its in-house training program would fail to provide an equivalent level of safety and not serve the public interest.