Garda Fraud Squad considers probe into pilot training college

The Garda Fraud Squad are assessing whether to launch an full investigation into a Waterford-based pilot school which collapsed leaving 180 trainees, who had paid up to €80,000 each in fees, stranded in Florida.

As part of initial inquiries, the Fraud Squad is examining documentation given to them by the trainees which details how and when they paid their fee instalments. It is estimated the Pilot Training College of Ireland (PTC) owes up to €10m in fees to Irish and international students.

It is also understood that several students have contacted gardaí in Waterford City with a view to making formal statements about PTC’s activities.

It is believed one formal statement has already been made to a Garda station in Donegal and that further statements are likely to be made to Garda stations around the country.

Last month, Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh told the Dáil he knew of “one particular Donegal student pilot who paid five-figure fees to PTC Waterford on Jun 14 last for training in Florida”.

The trainees, private and airline-sponsored students, have not had their fees refunded since the course collapsed.

It folded in mid-June as PTC owed Florida Institute of Technology, which was in charge of the training, €1.13m.

In early July, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) stripped PTC of its pilot training accreditation.

Last month, an examiner was appointed to PTC and the company sought and was given temporary court protection to give it time to come up with a scheme aimed at securing its future.

Questions have also been raised about a statement sent to the IAA and signed off on by PTC auditors last October, which confirmed the company had sufficient funds to enable student training to be completed to required standards.

An estimated €10m was paid to the college by 180 private and airline-sponsored students over the past 18 months. Many private students incurred sizeable loans to pay for the course or else their parents re- mortgaged their homes.

However, in mid-June, the students were informed their course had folded and if they wanted to continue their training, they would have to start afresh elsewhere.