Published 4th June 2025
It’s one thing to dream of flying, but turning that dream into a career is no easy feat. Especially when your dream takes you to the other side of the world. Here’s how inspiration and dedication led Republic Airways® First Officer Anisa Imtiaz…
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.
Working as a regional Pilot for a commercial airline is an exciting and fulfilling career for many. There are so many factors that go into choosing the right airline for you, including salary, safety, company culture, work-life balance, perks and benefits, bases and locations and experiences outside of the flight deck.
One of the frequently asked questions is, “How much is an airline Pilot’s salary?” It’s a good question because there are many benefits that Pilots receive that go beyond their salary. Let’s walk through a high-level overview of what you could expect to earn as a commercial airline Pilot, as well as just some of the other perks of being a Pilot. We’ll use our own Pilot pay as an example, keeping in mind that the industry varies from airline to airline and from regional to mainline.
Once you have completed the FAA-required hours to achieve Airline Transport Pilot status — currently 1,500 hours — you are eligible to be a First Officer with a commercial airline. (If you are not currently a Pilot and are contemplating becoming one, we recommend considering our flight training school, LIFT Academy, where you can complete training in as little as 18 months and become a Certificated Flight Instructor while you earn your required flight hours.)
First Officers at Republic start their career making $91.81/hour. In addition to their Pilot salary, however, Republic First Officers also receive the following benefits that enhance their quality of life overall:
Once they have completed 850 hours of Part 121 experience, Republic First Officers can bid for an upgrade class date but will begin earning first-year Captain pay of $142.81/hour.
In addition to the same Pilot perks they enjoyed previously — like flight privileges to explore the world with family and friends, the availability of our 10 U.S. bases and other great benefits — First Officers can also explore additional opportunities with our partners through our Delta Ready and United Ready Pilot pathway programs as they prepare to transition to the left seat. These programs help set participating Pilots up for success in the mainlines through guaranteed interview programs, training opportunities with either Delta or United while at Republic, and an easier transition to pursue the flight path of your choosing.
In addition to a competitive airline Pilot salary, First Officers and Captains at Republic enjoy working with state-of-the-art technology in our Training Center, eight full-flight simulators, all in-house Flight Instructors and the only all E-Jet fleet of Embraer 170/175s along with the best work rules in the industry that allow you to have better work-life balance. Your opportunities are elevated on every level at Republic Airways. Come live your BEST life as part of our team and see your future take off!
The Republic Airways fleet of over 240 Embraer 170/175s delivers excellent performance and operations efficiencies, both in the air and on the ground. The E-Jet is the leader in the regional airline industry — a true business warrior.
An optimized design means the Embraer 170/175 is built with the lowest possible aircraft operating rate in order to carry the highest revenue-generating payload. Since fuel consumption is proportional to an aircraft’s weight, a lighter plane means cost savings that go right to the bottom line. When it comes to best cost per trip, the E-Jet is the leader.
The aircraft’s fly-by-wire technology helps reduce Pilot workload, improves aircraft performance, simplifies systems architecture and minimizes weight and maintenance.
Each aircraft is equipped with two General Electric CF34 engines. These engines are designed for efficiency — CO, UHC, Nox and smoke emission margins range from 26% to an impressive 98% below ICAO Annex (Volume II) CAEP/6 limits for the E170/175.
When it comes to regional aircraft, the Embraer 170/175 is the best in the business.
Republic Airways has 10 bases across the United States, with a heavy emphasis in the Northeast. There are over 1000 average daily departures to over 100 destinations.
As a lifelong New Yorker, Captain Devon Ragbir knew that the presence Republic Airways has in the Northeast could allow him to stay close to home and close to family. “If you live in the Northeast … there’s no better airline than Republic Airways,” Devon explains. “Republic Airways and the Northeast just fit hand-in-glove.”
With 10 bases and long-standing partnerships with our codeshares American, Delta and United, Republic is a flexible and commuter-friendly airline. And that’s exactly what Devon was looking for. “I didn’t want to give up seeing my family. I didn’t want to give up my career.” Choosing Republic meant Devon didn’t have to give up anything. “I know when I’m leaving … I know when I’m coming home. My family knows when I’m coming home. There’s no vagueness about what to expect.”
There are plenty of opportunities for experiences outside of flying for Pilots, especially at Republic Airways.
Bryan Linck, a Captain with Republic Airways, has had many different experiences throughout his tenure at the organization. While Bryan enjoys being a Pilot, he also appreciates finding career opportunities that extend beyond the flight deck.
“When I’m part of an organization, my goal is to find ways to contribute,” Bryan explains. “You can fly from point A to point B with any company. For me though, being involved with training or safety — and knowing that Republic supports those programs — that’s more fulfilling for me.”
One thing that sets Republic Airways apart in Bryan’s mind is the size of the organization itself. “We’re a big regional doing big things for our mainline codeshare partners,” he says. “At the same time, it’s small enough where you have countless other ways to get involved.”
“I’m always looking for opportunities to make a difference with other people,” he continues. “I can be involved with the training department. I can teach our new First Officers and Captains how we operate and get them prepared for their type rating in the Embraer 170/175. I can be involved in supporting our Pilot group with safety issues.”
Before pursuing a career in aviation, Bryan’s background was in education. So, it only makes sense that he’d be drawn to training as a career opportunity with Republic Airways.
“Going through Pilot training is kind of like drinking from a firehose,” he says. “You’re basically going from flying single-engine training aircraft (with a maximum cruising speed typically under 200 knots) to learning how to fly a twin-engine commercial jet at 400 knots. It’s a lot. It happens fast.”
Training is key to all aspects of Republic Airways operations. “We invest a lot of time and energy into making sure that the people that come to Republic are going to be successful,” Bryan explains. “That investment is evident the moment you step inside our Training Center — where you see state-of-the-art simulators, flat-panel trainers and ground school programs to get people prepped and ready to go.”
“To be part of the training program and impart some of the lessons that I’ve learned is something really worthwhile,” he says.
Just as important as training and safety, Bryan emphasizes the importance of individual mentorship. “Republic supports and offers wide-ranging mentorship programs,” he says. “Being able to work with our new hires, I know how stressful it is to go through an airline training program. Not too long ago, I was in their shoes.”
“I had a Captain as a mentor from the moment I came in as a new hire — someone I could call and talk to, someone who would provide guidance and advice, someone who would actually reach out to me and ask how I was doing.”
To Bryan, those personal connections matter. “When we all support each other, it makes the job easier,” he says. “It makes the job more fun. To be able to empathize, provide feedback on how they’re doing and watch as they develop, that’s a really rewarding experience.”
Captain Devon Ragbir at Republic Airways has a similar perspective. While many airlines talk about their culture, “You hear it over and over, the culture and the family aspect.” But Republic stood out. “The sincerity, compassion, the natural feel of things … at no point did you feel like you weren’t supported … at no point did you feel alone.”
Devon does his best to do his part, too. “When I put on my uniform, I think about what makes this company great, and really, it’s the people. I can’t fly without a Flight Attendant, nor can I fly without my First Officer. We’re here to succeed as a team. No matter what your uniform looks like, no matter where you stand.”
Being a Pilot can be a demanding job. That’s why Republic Airways takes pride in our industry-leading work rules and our world-class culture. Pilots are people first, with lives outside of the flight deck. We hear from a variety of Pilots, both First Officers and Captains, on why culture at Republic Airways plays such an important role in their day-to-day.
“The number one thing that’s kept me at Republic for over twenty years is the people,” said Ashley Gomez, Chief Pilot at Republic Airways. “While we are a growing organization, we are a close-knit family.”
The culture at Republic supports our Associates by fostering community and giving Associates recognition for excellence.
Another way Republic shows support for Pilots comes from our approach to safety.
“Safety is at the center of everything we do,” said Ashley. “Republic goes above and beyond to instill that in our culture.”
In addition to industry standards, Republic has worked alongside the Pilot union to develop safety guidelines and a robust safety reporting culture. Republic further enhances the safety of our operation by regularly sending team members to industry safety conferences, and by collaborating with Aircraft Maintenance Technicians to strengthen preventative maintenance measures.
Republic Airways Captain Dan Bowers, who assists with the talent acquisition process when he’s not flying, agrees that safety is essential to the culture of Republic Airways. It’s one of the main things he and other recruiters look out for when participating in the interview process with prospective Republic Airways Pilots.
For over 50 years, safety has been one of the most important tenets of the Republic Airways culture. “The first thing I look for in an interview is a safety mindset,” Dan says. “We’re looking for someone who is going to make the right decisions. Show me in your past that you’ve made safe decisions before.”
Our Safety Management System is designed to identify hazards and mitigate operational risks while reinforcing continuous improvement through established safety systems. Republic Airways also empowers team members to utilize our Voluntary Reporting systems which include non-punitive employee reporting to Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA). “We have a great safety culture,” Dan emphasizes. “And that’s why it’s the top thing I look for in a potential Pilot.”
That culture of safety starts with comprehensive training. This is one of the reasons why Dan says the second thing he looks for while interviewing Pilots is their ability to successfully complete the training program. “We have a great training program here that sets Pilots up to succeed,” Dan explains. The training program is the foundation of a career at Republic, and both Dan and the candidate need to feel confident in their ability to complete training successfully.
Republic’s focus on work-life balance made an immediate impression on Captain Bryan Linck. “From the moment I got involved with Republic, I didn’t feel like a number,” he says. “I felt like I was going to be supported.”
He saw that firsthand during the week of Thanksgiving — the single busiest time of the year for air travel. “I was teaching a course at Republic’s new Training Center, and could have done a two-leg commute on Thanksgiving Day and then come back,” he says. “But I’d rather spend less time in airports and more time with my family.”
Bryan’s wife and two teenage daughters drove to Indianapolis to spend the holiday with him — while he finished up his teaching duties at the Training Center, across from the Brickyard Hotel. Owned and operated by Republic Airways, the hotel provides a place for associates to stay during training. The hotel offers relaxing spaces as well as full meals, prepared by its very own chef.
“We had plans to go out for a nice dinner together,” Bryan says. “But when I came down for breakfast at the hotel that morning, the chef said, ‘We’re doing a big Thanksgiving feast here. We’d love to have you.'” Although the offer came as a surprise, Bryan and his family decided to accept.
Bryan was further surprised to see Republic’s President Matt Koscal there with his own family. “He was greeting people as dinner got underway, and waved my family over as we came in to welcome us,” Bryan says. “We had a great experience. Not only do I feel like I’m part of a family at Republic — but my actual family is part of the Republic family.”
For Bharat Lakshmanan, a Republic Airways Captain, family always comes first. When he’s not flying, you can find him spending quality time with his parents and sibling at home in Florida. “Thanks to Republic’s policy of no junior manning, I can enjoy my off days without worrying about getting called in,” Bharat explains. “I know that when I’m off, I’m off,” he emphasizes.
Junior manning is a common practice in the aviation industry. In fact, it’s rare to find airlines who don’t practice junior manning. “It’s a unique perk at Republic,” Bharat points out. “I’m thankful that when I’m home, I can just relax and focus on my family and my passions outside of aviation.”
“Every once in a while I need some flexibility in my schedule, especially as a commuter,” says Bharat. From his home in Florida, Bharat’s trips start with a drive to Orlando, and a nonstop flight to Pittsburgh. “Sometimes it can add a whole day onto my trip.”
When Bharat needs a little time off, or just needs to shift a trip around to better fit his life, he turns to his fellow Pilots. “With trip trading and reserve day trading, I can work it out with my colleagues if something comes up.” While he knows he won’t always get exactly what he wants, Bharat has found his coworkers are more than willing to help out when he needs it.
For Bharat, that willingness to lend a hand doesn’t stop with picking up a trip or two. “I firmly believe that Republic’s culture is top-notch,” he states. “Everyone is involved and invested. Everyone is there to help out.”
“I don’t often have bad days at Republic,” Bharat says with a smile. “If I do, though, it doesn’t last long. I’m always excited to fly with my colleagues.” Knowing his team at Republic has his back makes Bharat want to give back. “I want to continue mentoring. Everybody helped me get to where I am now, I want to keep paying it forward.”
When Devon interviewed for Republic, he was transitioning from a flight instructor to a Commercial Pilot. At Republic, one thing was immediately clear to Devon, “Everyone wants to see you succeed … Whether it’s the shuttle driver from the airport to our training facility, whether it’s Teresa at the front desk … The Captains all want to see you succeed. They all want to see you make it to the left [seat].” He joined Republic as a First Officer, and now, just a few years later, he sits in that left seat as a Captain.
With the option to continue growing his career at Republic Airways or move to a mainline with dedicated pathway programs, Devon knows his future is wide open. “You [can] choose to stay at Republic and move up the ranks and … do your job to the fullest, or … maybe one day you’ll fly for one of their codeshares.”
Flying has always been an act of technological wonder. As planes and aviation systems become increasingly complex, airlines have to evolve — or risk being left behind. That’s why at Republic Airways, we have always been fiercely committed to providing our team with the latest technologies and the right resources for success now and for years to come.
One of our latest investments into the future of aviation is the Training Center in Carmel, Indiana. The facilities are part of an ambitious project to create an integrated campus housing the corporate headquarters for Republic Airways, as well as Systems Operation Control and the training department.
The Training Center offers leading-edge training facilities. The Training Center includes:
Republic’s simulator training is led by Republic Instructors who are qualified on Embraer aircraft. This training gives Republic Pilots a huge advantage in becoming and remaining experienced, safety-focused professionals since Republic Airways operates the largest dedicated fleet of over 240 Embraer 170/175s.
All Republic training curriculum is done in an Advanced Qualification Program (AQP), producing more line-ready First Officers and Captains. AQP is a data-driven program that enables continuous improvement for the training process, lessons and completion standards. Pilots in initial training complete a systems’ review with L3Harris’s Virtual Flight Deck Software Suite and maintain access to this for review and flight management system practice.
When Republic Pilots are working in the flight deck of the Embraer 175, they are more prepared and confident because of the many hours they have spent honing their craft in the sims with top-notch training and instruction. This virtual environment creates real-world preparedness and helps train Pilots to be Republic Ready, flying to the highest standards of safety.
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We are proud to partner with and represent American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. Together, we provide our passengers with a smooth flying experience.
At Republic Airways, our successes are shared by our Associates. Together is the only way we fly.
