Student pilots to jet in for training in exchange deal

PILOTS from as far away as the US will be flying high over Waterford soon under a multi-million euro deal with one of the world’s leading training services.

The Pilot Training College of Ireland, based at Waterford Airport, has signed a deal worth €4.5 million annually with FlightSafety International, the world’s largest provider of training services for the aviation industry.

Under the agreement, student pilots from Ireland will train at FlightSafety International’s Vero Beach facility in Florida, while US students will travel to the Pilot College’s Waterford base to train.

Capt Mike Edgeworth, chief executive of the Pilot Training College, said the first group of nine student pilots left Waterford this week for Florida and the first American group will arrive in Ireland later this month.

“This strategic alliance for the Pilot Training College is a first for Ireland and is the only agreement of its kind to be signed so far,” Capt Edgeworth said.

“FlightSafety International trains over 65,000 pilots a year at 42 centres in the US, Canada, France and the UK and its decision to sign an agreement with us is indicative of the high standards we have achieved in the past five years.

“We anticipate that in the first year in operation, we will exchange between 100 and 120 students with FlightSafety International.

“So far, we have trained pilots from 25 different countries and our graduates are now employed by many airlines, including RyanAir, Aer Arann, City Jet, Westair, Air Asia and Club 328.”