My name is Hakan Efe Sonlu and I successfully completed my integrated flight training with Atlantic Flight Training Academy in November 2017.
When I first came down to Cork to visit AFTA after visiting many other schools, I knew AFTA was the school for me. AFTA really do deserve the amazing reputation that they have earned. I met with Mark Casey and the AFTA team, they assured me that I would be well looked after at the academy and they kept their word. The academy showed immense support throughout my training even for personal problems such as finance and AFTA really is affordable compared to the other flight school and the standard that they put you up to is even better, they always assured me to feel at ease during my training and even after, they were always looking after me as they said from day one.
The academy has an amazing fleet of modern aircraft such as the glass cockpit Cessna 172 and my favourite aircraft, the Piper Seneca. The aircraft are well maintained by an excellent team of engineers and mechanics.
Training at Cork Airport is also an added bonus. It gives valuable experience flying in challenging weather which I definitely believe has helped me immensely. You also get to experience flight in controlled airspace with all the other airliners, it really gave me the experience that I wouldn’t have been able to get elsewhere. Seeing the big airliners taking off and landing on the same runway really encourages and motivates you to improve your airmanship, situational awareness and radio telephony abilities. What’s more is that you get to discover and fly in real IFR conditions at Cork where you might not be able to in another flight school which really does prepare you for your future as an Airline Pilot.
The standard of instruction at AFTA is world class, they really do make you look like a real pilot compared to some other flight schools which I noticed during my Airline interview. They push you up to an excellent standard and always take pride in seeing you develop to be a better pilot. The instructors are always there to support you whenever or wherever! Once you meet the instructors you know that they are extremely experienced and knowledgeable and are delighted to pass on their years of information. The instructors were not only there to teach but they also became your friends which I thought was amazing.
The standard of instruction at AFTA is world class
The MCC/JOC at AFTA is really one of a kind, they not only prepare you on CRM and teamwork but they literally teach you how to fly the Boeing 737, by the end of the course I felt confident in my piloting abilities of a jet and also my personal skills.
When I completed the integrated course, AFTA provided a lot of support on helping me find and get a job, they helped me to build my CV, Suzanne and Philip really helped in terms of helping me combat the interview stress and guided me through the interview stage, they also helped me in the sim preparation, Pat made me stand out from all the other candidates at my assessment, I am thankful and proud of being a student at AFTA.
I would highly recommend AFTA to any aspiring pilots out there, I started AFTA at 18 years of age, with no knowledge. They literally made me go from nothing to an Airline Pilot. The facilities provided at AFTA were perfect and I couldn’t ask for anything else. I am proud of picking AFTA, If I could take back time I would pick AFTA every time and I can’t thank the school enough for everything they have done and I will be staying in touch.
I am about to start a career with one of Europes largest airlines, Ryanair and I truly believe that I wouldn’t have gotten here without the help from the team at AFTA.
Thank you for making my dreams come true.
Hakan Efe Sonlu