Pilot Training College
Image:Pilot_Training_College_logo.jpg
The Pilot Training College of Ireland Ltd was a flight training organization that was fully approved[http://www.iaa.ie/index.jsp?p=143&n=197 Irish Aviation Authority website showing PTC is a FTO] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205162156/http://www.iaa.ie/index.jsp?p=143&n=197 |date=2010-12-05 }} to provide commercial pilot training to trainees.[http://www.independent.ie/national-news/pilot-school-gets-off-to-flying-start-198985.html Irish Independent newspaper article on the opening of the PTC]
In July 2012, RTÉ reported that Irish students who had paid up to €80,000 in fees to train in Florida had been stranded because the Florida Institute of Technology had terminated its agreement with PTC over alleged non-payment.{{Cite journal |date=2012-07-10 |title=Many trainee pilots to return to Ireland |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0710/328526-irish-pilots-florida-training-course/ |language=en}} That same month the IAA withdrew PTC's license. As a result, PTC ceased all training, and their website was taken offline with no official explanation or apology. In 2012, a trainee pilot named Conor J. Deeny assumed the position of spokesman and coordinator for the students who flew from Ireland to train in Florida.
Since this incident, he and all other trainee pilots have left America and returned home.{{Cite web |last= |date=2012-07-11 |title=Irish Pilots Look to Future After PTC Program Ends |url=https://news.fit.edu/archive/irish-pilots-look-to-future-after-ptc-program-ends/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Florida Tech News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-07-18 |title=Dreams dashed and left in limbo |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-20201071.html |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}
Training and facilities
PTC had training facilities in Waterford Airport, Ireland, and multiple locations in Florida, United States. The training provided was in accordance with the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) requirements for commercial pilots.[http://www.jaa.nl/secured/Licensing/LIS/FTO.pdf PDF showing PTC's JAA membership] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719191627/http://www.jaa.nl/secured/Licensing/LIS/FTO.pdf|date=2011-07-19}}
The school offered a range of courses, including:
- BSc (Hons) in Airline Transport Operations (3 years full-time and 2 years part-time)
- Integrated Airline Training Program
- Airline Pilot Training Program
- Pilot license and rating conversions
- Individual modular courses (ATPL, commercial pilot license (CPL), MEP, MEIR)
References
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External links
- [http://www.jaat.eu Joint Aviation Authority website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090214233409/http://www.pilotcourseireland.com/ Pilot Training College Student Diary]