Published 17th April 2025
When Cassie decided to become a Republic Airways Pilot, she had already been working as a Republic Airways Flight Attendant for years. Today, Cassie is a Chicago-based First Officer. Her path from the cabin to the flight deck shows what’s possible when a company and its people stand behind you.
When DCA-based Captain Vincent Schmitt stepped onto Flight 4523 from Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) to Madison, Wisconsin (MSN), it was more than another day at work. It was the culmination of weeks of planning, coordination and care from fellow Republic Associates who rallied together.
In February of 2026, Larry had the pleasure of operating a Republic Airways® flight with First Officer Laura Jean Chenaille – his daughter. Here’s the story of how this remarkable family milestone came to be.
A career in Aviation is full of transition — to a new title, a new base or a new position. While you are probably excited about the new opportunities and responsibilities, there is uncertainty and uncomfortability that comes with transition as well. The Republic Airways Pilot Mentorship Program is designed to support students, First Officers and even Captains as they take on new challenges throughout their careers. Speaking with Captain Ryan Lynch and First Officer Katelyn Griffin, we learned why mentorship is so important and how the right support can set Pilots up for success.
While the Pilot Mentorship Program officially began in 2014, the support has been here all along. “There has always been a wonderful culture of support at Republic,” said Ryan. “By founding this program, we were able to harness that culture to create an official channel for our Associates to access that support.”
As Pilots themselves, Ryan and Katelyn are keenly aware of what it takes to succeed. “Whether you’re an incoming First Officer or upgrading to Captain, there’s a lot of information being presented to you,” Katelyn said. “Just knowing who to talk to and how to access that information can be intimidating.” With the formalized process and a mentor on your side, Pilots can be confident that they will get the answers they need to succeed.
“This is a volunteer program,” Ryan reminded us. “That means that everyone involved really wants to be involved.”
When you sign up for the program, you will be assigned a mentor. For First Officers, your mentor will either be a fellow First Officer with over a year of experience or a Captain. For those upgrading to Captain, your mentor will be an experienced Captain. The program officially lasts between six and twelve months, but Pilots are encouraged to maintain and utilize these relationships throughout their entire careers.
While your Pilot mentor will support you in honing your technical skills, Ryan and Katelyn have found that it’s the soft skills that can be the most beneficial. “Of course, mentors will help you with simulator training or give you advice on techniques,” said Ryan, “But they’ll also help you forge connections with coworkers and aid you with your career roadmap.”
“Having that direct line to someone who has been exactly where you are before is invaluable,” Ryan explained. Katelyn added, “It gives you a chance to ask all the questions that might feel obvious — your mentor probably had those same questions.”
Since 2014, the program has been rapidly expanding. “We’ve seen a big uptrend in Pilots using this Mentorship Program over the years,” Katelyn said. “We’ve even seen similar Mentorship Programs growing and succeeding in other departments.”
The Pilot Mentorship Program currently offers mentors for incoming First Officers, Captain upgrades, LIFT Academy students and even RJet Cadets (students training to become Pilots at university campuses across the country). For Ryan and Katelyn, this is still just the beginning. “We want to continue to expand our reach and make these resources more accessible to more and more Associates at different points of their careers.”
One area they are planning to focus on is First Officers looking to make the upgrade to Captain. “Right now the Mentorship Program for Captains starts after they’ve been awarded their Captain Upgrade class date. We’d like to provide even more support leading up to and during that transition.” Working with the Republic Base Chiefs and Training Directors, the program would allow First Officers who are planning to upgrade to perform certain Captain duties under the supervision of the Captain prior to their Captain Upgrade class date.
“I used to be a team of one,” Ryan said. “It was an idea that only existed on a sheet of paper. With the support of our leadership team, the union and passionate Associates like Katelyn, we’ve been able to turn that idea into a successful resource for our Pilots.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the Republic Airways Mentorship Program, contact the Pilot Mentorship Program Administrators at [email protected].
If you’re looking to join an Airline that gives you the resources you need to grow, apply to Republic Airways today.
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