Dreams dashed and left in limbo

The Pilot Training College Waterford has gone incommunicado and trainees have been left high and dry, writes trainee pilot Conor Deeny

IT HAD always been my dream from early childhood to one day become an airline pilot. So strong was the fascination it held for me that, at age 12, I got the Microsoft Flight Simulation game for the computer. When my friends were playing video games I took to the blue skies, planned routes to exotic places, drew up flight plans, and then “flew” to the destination on the computer.

During my penultimate year in grammar school the careers department organised visits to the school by companies who may have been able to offer training and employment in the future. One such lecture was given by an aviation specialist who informed the group of the avenues available for pilot training. After this I researched the topic and discovered two major flying schools based in Ireland. The Pilot Training College (PTC) Waterford was internationally recognised. I did further research on this particular company and discovered that they were holding an information evening in Belfast followed by assessment and aptitude testing.

Having previously discussed the matter with my parents and received their support, I applied to attend the meeting at a cost of about €300. The initial meeting was an explanation by PTC of their curriculum, methods and location of training.

The following day, aptitude tests and an assessment were held and, based on these results, I was invited to join PTC subject to a favourable medical report. I attended for my medical at the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin on payment of a further €1,000. I was then accepted for pilot training.

My parents wholeheartedly supported my decision to become an airline pilot. In order to inform themselves more broadly about the course, costing, etc, we attended the flyer exhibition in Dublin, where all our queries were answered to our satisfaction by PTC staff. My parents then made a financial arrangement with the bank to provide me with the resources (€91,000) necessary to embark on my chosen profession. We accepted that this would be a financial burden on the family until such time as I might have gained employment as a commercial pilot.

On Nov 19, 2011, I travelled to Melbourne, Florida, to begin the first phase of my training at Florida Institute of Technology Aviation (the sub-contractor charged with the provision of our training). Initially, everything went well. I clocked up 50 hours’ flying time, had gone solo and had passed all relevant ground instructions, including those for a private pilot’s licence. At this stage, I was within five hours flying time of obtaining my private licence.

In mid-May the student body was informed that a dispute had arisen between Pilot Training College and Florida Institute of Technology, the outcome of this dispute was the suspension of our flight training programme for a five-day period by the institute. After this period, normal flight activities resumed.

All went well until June 26, 2012, when to our dismay, we were told that the contract had been cancelled. Florida Institute of Technology informed us that we had to vacate our apartments and that our visas would become invalid on Jul 15.

During this period students were given very little information and relied on news from the local media and from Ireland.

On Jul 2, Pilot Training College Florida (a subsidiary of Pilot Training College Waterford) ceased trading. At that point, the students were left adrift with no promise of study continuance or refunds of money we had already paid — and a complete lack of information. We were left totally clueless about our futures. As Jul 15 dawned we had no alternative but to return home.

On arrival we were further disappointed to discover from our families that Pilot Training College had gone incommunicado and no agency would take responsibility for us, despite the fact that Enterprise Ireland had contributed €400,000 to Pilot Training College in 2010.

An action group has been formed, various TDs have been informed, including the Minister for Transport, and we anxiously await a response.

Thankfully, local and national media have taken up the story and, with their influence, we anticipate a favourable outcome to our predicament.