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“We’ve experienced rapid growth of the LIFT program due to the quantity and quality of students we’ve attracted from all over the country, so we know there is demand to expand our operations outside of the Midwest. South Carolina, and in particular Myrtle Beach, is an ideal location with favorable weather for flying and strong investments being made to its airport infrastructure and surrounding area,” said Ed Bagden, LIFT Director of Operations and Academic Programs.
The Indianapolis program has grown to become one of the largest flight training institutions in the United States over the past four years, training up to 300 students each year. Students attending LIFT Academy are trained to exceed the stringent commercial pilot certifications outlined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Uniquely to LIFT, its graduates have a direct pathway to a position as a commercial airline pilot at Republic Airways which includes compensation while building the FAA-required flight hours needed to operate in the commercial airline field.
LIFT plans to begin its operations in Myrtle Beach as early as October of this year in a temporary hangar location on Myrtle Beach International Airport property. LIFT will use this location for its Indianapolis winter operations, and negotiations are underway with the airport, city and state for a suitable long-term facility for its flight training program.
LIFT’s training fleet is one of the largest and newest in the flight training environment. Students operate an efficient, lead-free fleet of Diamond DA40-NG single-engine aircraft and Diamond DA42-VI twin-engine aircraft with advanced Garmin G1000 avionics throughout each flight hour of their training curriculum. LIFT has plans to expand its aircraft fleet to support this additional training location.
“We are thrilled that Republic Airways has selected Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) as its next location for expansion of LIFT Academy,” said Scott Van Moppes, Director of Airports. “Through LIFT, MYR will welcome pilots in training from all areas of the country, looking to take advantage of the ideal flying weather and our close proximity to other Horry County airports. We look forward to building a great partnership with LIFT Academy and offer a warm welcome to the Grand Strand.”
The LIFT flight training program, which takes approximately 12 months from start to finish, is the first of its kind that provides mission-specific flight training designed to bring airline protocols, manuals and standards to the training environment, best preparing its pilots for their careers in the airline industry.