41 Years at Republic Airways®

The world of aviation is fast-paced. Things change month-to-month, week-to-week and even day-to-day. Imagine how much changes in 41 years. For Barry Confer, he doesn’t have to imagine. Barry has been a Pilot at Republic Airways since 1983, and he’s recently completed his final flight. To celebrate his career in aviation, Barry was gracious enough to sit down with us and share his wisdom, his experiences and his incredible history with Republic.

Where It Started

Aviation was in Barry’s life from a young age. “I worked at a small airport in Ohio during high school, cleaning airplanes.” In between pumping gas and washing aircraft, he learned how to fly gliders and eventually powered aircraft.

Barry went to college, worked on his ratings and earned his flight instructor certificate. “I couldn’t believe it,” he jokes. “Someone was going to pay me to fly.”

After a few years as an instructor, he wanted to move to the airlines. “I was based in the Northeast, so what is now known as Republic Airways was familiar to me,” Barry says. “I typed out my resume and cover letter, mailed it in and was thankfully hired.” There were five Pilots in his INDOC class — which was large for a company of only 28 Pilots — and he was the youngest. “I went from the lowest on the seniority list to the highest,” says Barry. “It just took 41 years.”

What’s Changed

Throughout his career at Republic, Barry has done it all. He was a First Officer, a Captain, a Check Airman, an Instructor, a Chief Pilot and much more. His longevity and depth of experience give him a unique perspective on how the industry has changed over the years.

The most obvious and probably most radical change is the technology. “When I started, we were flying 15- and 30-seat turboprop aircraft,” Barry says. “It’s hard to even compare that to the Embraer jet I operated on my last flight.”

The flight deck isn’t the only place where technology has made an impact. Training has come a long way, too. “We used to train in the aircraft at all hours of the night,” explains Barry. “We’d be flying the aircraft at 2:00 AM, flying single-engine approaches, no-flap landings and go-arounds.” Now, with the help of leading-edge simulator technology at our Aviation Campus, Republic Pilots can train just about every scenario they might face.

“With the limitations in training we had in the past, we would only be able to train certain scenarios in a live-flying environment,” he shared. “Now, First Officers are coming out of training knowing the job from front to back.”

What’s Stayed the Same

While parts of the aviation industry might be changing every day, Barry has learned that there are certain core principles that will always lead to success. “From the very beginning, Republic has always been about safety, both for our Passengers and our Crew,” says Barry. “That aspect of our culture hasn’t changed. Our Maintenance and Engineering Department has always been proud of being thorough — cutting corners is never an option.”

“I’ve always respected how much trust Republic puts in our Flight Crews,” Barry continues. “If a Captain makes the correct safety decision, especially the unpopular decision to ground a flight, Republic Airways supports them.”

“That’s the culture that’s always been here,” explains Barry. “If you show up, put in the effort and do a good job, Republic is going to have your back. They’ll give you all the tools and support you need; they just expect you to make the most of them.”

From day one to year 41, Barry has made the most of it. Now, looking back on a full career as a Republic Pilot, he can be proud of the work he put in to help make Republic Airways into a leading airline.

While Barry might not be sitting in the left seat anymore, he’s still more than happy to pass on the wisdom he’s picked up throughout his career. He’s looking forward to a part-time position as a Republic Instructor, where he will be able to help shape the next generation of Pilots. “The most important non-operational thing I try to teach the younger generation is to be grateful,” Barry says. “This is such a special job. When things get frustrating, remember how fortunate you are to do this for a living.”

Learn more about starting your own career story at Republic right here.