LIFT Academy and Cape Air recently announced their strategic workforce development relationship - offering LIFT students valuable experience as pilot in command (PIC) and an additional option for time building before they flow to Republic Airways as First Officer. Cape Air’s mantra is MOCHA HAGoTDI - Make our Customers Happy and Have a Good Time Doing It, and when a few LIFT students and staff made the trip out to Cape Air’s headquarters in Hyannis, MA - they saw just that, an extension of the feelings they’d had at LIFT - the organization feels like family. Abi Anderson, a former flight attendant, was one of the LIFT students who had the opportunity to see Cape Air for herself. Let’s hear from her on why she’s ready to fly for Cape Air.

Zach Boggs, Republic Airways First Officer, started at LIFT Academy as a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), excited for the opportunity to instruct at a flight school owned and operated by Republic. Zach had always been interested in and excited by planes--at least he was for as long as he can remember. He caught the aviation bug when he was young. Since leaving LIFT for Republic, Zach has had the time of his life flying E175 jets.

LIFT Academy’s Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Apprenticeship Program welcomed its first class of students in Fall 2019 as part of a strategic workforce development initiative to vertically integrate aircraft technicians into Republic Airways as demand for the career continues to grow in the aviation industry. LIFT partnered with the U.S. Department of Labor to establish and launch the apprenticeship program, and as we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week with the U.S. Department of Labor this week (November 15-21), we give a shout out to our apprentices who do great work to keep our aircraft and pilots safe.

Meet Courtney Greig, current LIFT student and Active Duty Army National Guard member. Courtney reflects on how her military experience has helped her in flight training. She also discusses her excitement for her future as a commercial airline pilot.

October is Global Diversity Awareness Month, and as part of it, we’re sharing LIFT’s commitment to diversity and the importance of making the aviation industry more diverse. We are proud to throw open our hangar doors to a world of possibilities for all who thought becoming a pilot was simply not within reach. Hear from two of our students on diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry!