Stranded trainee pilots await training college restructuring

Irish trainee pilots, stranded in Florida, are anxiously awaiting the outcome of restructuring aimed at saving their training college based in Waterford.

Irish trainee pilots, stranded in Florida, are anxiously awaiting the outcome of restructuring aimed at saving their Waterford-based training college.

The students could lose around €80,000 each after their studies were cancelled because of a dispute between the Pilot Training College in Waterford and the Florida Institute of Technology.

Last night, the Irish Aviation Authority took the unprecedented step of temporarily suspending the training approval for the college in Waterford.

The company said that it will come up with a viable restructuring plan in 10 days.

One of the students affected in Florida, Conor Deeney from Derry, said that they were grounded just more than a week ago.