Pilot students say it’s unethical for them to pay to train elsewhere

Students of the Pilot Training College say it is “unethical” and “out of the question” that they be expected to pay tens of thousands of euro more in order to have their training taken over by another company.

PTC had written to the trainee pilots telling them it had been in discussion with CAE Oxford Aviation Academy about continuing their training there.

A number of the 186 trainees who were in Florida for training are in the process of travelling home after the cancellation of the training contract between the Waterford-based PTC and the Florida Institute.

In the letters, PTC said it “recognised and deeply regretted” that a number of students would incur additional costs as a result of a move to the Oxford course.

However, the students issued their own press release saying while they were delighted to be hearing from PTC after “six days of silence”, the statement from PTC had created “yet more confusion and frustration”.

They said their primary frustration was that PTC’s claim of the alternative training arrangement with Oxford Aviation Academy “lacks any assurance of continuation of training”.

They said it offers only to provide training if two conditions exist:

* An offer is made by Oxford Aviation Academy to a student to begin a new flight training programme under a contract;

* If students have the funds available themselves to continue training without those they provided to PTC.

“If such an agreement comes to fruition, it leaves whatever students Oxford decide not to take on without a solution and shows PTC’s determination to wash their hands of the obligations they have to their students,” they said.

The students also made reference to a paragraph in which PTC referred to 39 students who would “not be financially impacted by the difficulties in PTC Florida due to a credit that has been offered by CAE Oxford Aviation Academy on the initial deposit amount that the students have already paid”.

The students said those 39 had not actually commenced training with PTC.

Conor Deeney, an 18-year-old trainee from Derry, said for the students who have been in Florida for up to 10 months, a switch to the Oxford course was “out of the question”.

“They still have to pay,” he told RTÉ Radio. “I have paid about €91,000... It makes no sense because we have paid for a service we have not received.”

During a debate in the Seanad last night, Fianna Fáil Senator Denis O’Donovan said the pilot school scandal highlights “an issue in regard to light touch regulation” of the sector.

Speaking under privilege, he added: “What has happened to the €15m paid to PTC Waterford and who is accountable for same... The Minister must get a handle on this matter.”

The remarks were supported by Labour Senator John Whelan.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar said the Irish Aviation Authority will fund the flight costs of self-financing students leaving the US. However, he said he and the IAA have no responsibility for contracts between PTC and students.