Ed Bagden | Director, Operations and Academic Programs, LIFT Academy
Republic Airways

Ed Bagden is the Director of Operations at LIFT Academy, a premier pilot training school in Indianapolis, Indiana. As the primary on-site leader, Ed oversees the academy's operations, ensuring its mission-specific flight training programs are closely aligned with airline standards.
 
With a career that began as an airline pilot, Ed was instrumental in the startup team that built and launched LIFT Academy. Drawing on his extensive experience as an airline captain and flight operations manager, Ed has driven LIFT's innovative approach to training. This approach mirrors the procedures of Republic Airways, developed by leveraging best practices from the airline industry. LIFT’s program has redefined traditional pilot education, producing graduates who consistently outperform their peers from other training programs.
 
Ed’s leadership style emphasizes empowerment and recognition of his team’s achievements. He values business-focused goals and operational excellence, continuously striving for improvement. His insights and leadership have been highlighted in numerous publications, including Flying Magazine, AVweb, and Flight International, where he has shared his vision for advancing flight training through technology and best practices.
 
Passionate about emergent technologies, Ed is actively involved in integrating tools such as virtual reality into training programs, significantly enhancing the learning experience and preparing pilots for the complexities of modern aviation. His forward-thinking approach ensures that LIFT Academy remains at the cutting edge of flight training innovation.