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Why Choose AFTA


Train in varied weather conditions

We prepare you for your future career from day one on the flight line.

1.TRAIN IN VARIED WEATHER CONDITIONS

  • Cadets are exposed to difficult crosswinds, Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) training in Instrument Meteorological Condition (IMC) conditions.
  • Training in Ireland offers exposure to difficult Atlantic Sea board weather conditions and a continuously changing weather environment. AFTA utilises the Irish weather to your advantage.
  • Exposure to inflight icing conditions and varying weather enhances our cadet’s skills and experience. Instrument flight training is often conducted in actual instrument conditions where the students are exposed to a variety of challenges representing real life conditions.

Cork International Airport

2. OUR LOCATION

Atlantic Flight Training Academy is located adjacent to an international airport . We conduct our flight training operations from Cork International Airport and our satellite bases at Waterford Airport in the southeast and Shannon International Airport in the West of Ireland

  • Our company philosophy is to keep all training at one location to maximise training efficiency and standardisation.
  • Cork International Airport and its environment are perfect for flight training operations as we have the benefit of training in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
  • Controlled airspace provides our students with an excellent grounding in flight operations procedures. This allows our trainees to fly under Air Traffic Control with various types of Airline, Cargo, General Aviation and Helicopter traffic.

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– Cork Airport is the international gateway to the south of Ireland and Ireland’s second busiest airport. Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional and Ryanair are based here. Two runways, full runway lighting, every conceivable radio navigation and instrument approach aids a full range of Air Traffic Control Services. Instrument departures and arrivals are conducted under surveillance by local radar.

– Uncontrolled airspace (AFTA’s flight training area) surrounds the airports control zone and allows us full freedom to teach students flight training and for them to practice their manoeuvres. Although the airspace is uncontrolled, our aircraft are tracked by ATC and have a flight information service available for added safety.

– AFTA’s fleet at Cork Airport are situated on our own Apron within meters of the main Runway (see image) which means that from engine start our aircraft can be airborne within minutes not wasting time having to taxi long distances.

– Both our Flight Operations Centre and our Flight Academy are located adjacent to the airports runways. Both buildings have free Wi-Fi available to students and are fully equipped with state of the art multimedia study aids to provide the student with all the necessary tools needed to successfully complete their training.


Ryanair Mentored Programmes

3. Ryanair Mentored Programme

AFTA is an official pilot training partner of Ryanair, and home of the Ryanair Mentored Programme in Ireland. As one of Europe’s leading flight training organizations, with over 26 years proven record of delivering excellence and experienced tuition, AFTA have been carefully selected by Ryanair to provide highly trained and skilled pilots to the airline through the different training paths on the Ryanair Mentored Programme.

Fast Tracked Recruitment – Successful graduates from a Ryanair Mentored Pilot Training Programme, not only get a guaranteed final assessment but also have an exclusive fast-tracked recruitment process and will be given preference during initial selection. In addition to that, programme graduates will enjoy a distinct advantage at the actual interview and assessment stage as they will be taught using Ryanair procedures and will get exposure to our safety culture and operational philosophy from day one of the programme. Mentored students will also be tutored directly by the Ryanair pilot recruitment team before attending their final assessment.

Competency Ensured – Prior to Mentored Cadets committing to a large investment, candidates are assessed to firstly ensure that you have the capability to successfully complete pilot training and that you are suitable to become a future Ryanair pilot. This pre-assessment helps to ensure the 98% pass rate at the final Ryanair Cadet assessment. In the off-chance that the Mentored Cadet fails at the final Ryanair assessment, comprehensive feedback is provided to our Head of Training and additional training and support may be provided to the student prior to completing a second assessment with Ryanair, as soon as possible.

Below are the advantages of the Ryanair Mentored Programme:

  • You receive one on one mentoring from a current Ryanair pilot.
  • Train using Ryanair Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)
  • You will be given preference during initial selection.
  • Have exclusive access to a fast track recruitment process.
  • Be guaranteed a final Ryanair assessment including a HR/technical interview and simulator assessment.
  • Have a distinct advantage at the actual interview and assessment stage as you will be taught using Ryanair procedures and will get exposure to Ryanair’s safety culture and operational philosophy from day one of the programme.

Please click here for more information.


GlobeAir Mentored Programme

4. GlobeAir Mentored Programme

Europe’s leading and award-winning Private Jet Operator, GlobeAir and Atlantic Flight Training Academy have partnered up in recruiting and training prospective pilots in a mentored programme.

The GlobeAir ab-initio programme is exclusively offered at AFTA and facilitate aspiring pilots to complete their training using GlobeAir standard operating procedures and avail of a fast-tracked assessment process with GlobeAir at the end of their training.

On successful completion of pilot training and a final GlobeAir assessment, cadets will have attained a standard where they are ready to join the GlobeAir Cessna Citation Mustang type-rating programme.

Find more information here.

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University Partners

5. Partnerships With Universities

  • We have collaborated with our University partners to provide students with the choice to attain a third level qualification in conjunction with pilot training at AFTA.
  • AFTA in conjunction with Munster Technological University (MTU) launched the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Global Business with Pilot Studies to provide prospective pilots with a unique opportunity to complete embedded commercial pilot training as part of a level 8 degree. This course is a blended approach to becoming a professional pilot and offers students the ability to gain a frozen Airline Transport Pilot Licence (fATPL) alongside an Honours business degree.
  • Munster Technological University has also developed an online Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Business with Aviation Studies for qualified pilots. Airline pilots will receive recognition of the extensive learning involved in becoming a pilot to a commercial level through a process called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This equates to years 1 and 2 of a 4 year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Business with Aviation Studies. This programme has been developed in conjunction with AFTA and the aviation industry.
  • Dublin City University offers a degree in Aviation Management with Pilot Studies. The first three years of the course provide a general introduction to business analysis, the aviation sector, technical aspects of piloting and industry relevant work experience. For their fourth year students can opt to come and train in AFTA as a full time integrated student.

GRADUATE PROGRAMME

6. Graduate Development Programme

We have built relationships with airlines worldwide and are extremely proud of our partnerships and success in placing our graduates.

  • AFTA has proven record of over 27 years, delivering excellence and experienced instructing and preparing thousands of pilots, who now enjoy key positions such as Training Captains, Fleet Captains, Captains and First Officers with some of the world’s leading airlines.
  • We have earned a reputation within the industry for training competent, confident, professional pilots who now fly for airlines including Ryanair, Pegasus Airlines, Air Astana, Aer Lingus, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways.

Airline Graduate Development Programme

When you graduate you will need to have;

  • An in-depth aviation business knowledge.
  • The know how to succeed at airline selection.
  • The professional attitude required of an airline pilot.

AFTA’s Airline Graduate Development Programme is designed to help you show your true potential to your airline recruiter by:

  • Helping you prepare and assemble your CV in a format which a prospective airline would expect.
  • Coaching you in preparation for your interview, focusing on both technical and non-technical skills.
  • Giving you specific simulator training designed to prepare you for an airline simulator assessment.

The Airline Graduate Development programme is included as part of AFTA’s integrated courses, Modular students can also avail of this add on service upon completion of their MCC.


Our Facilities and Fleet

7. Facilities and FLEET

  • Students attending AFTA train in a purpose designed academy. The facility is fully equipped with state of the art multimedia study aids to provide the student with all the necessary tools needed to successfully complete their training.
  • We have one of the youngest fleet of aircraft in Europe. Our fleet includes Cessna 172s equipped with the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, Diamond DA42 M-NG & Twin Stars, Slingsby T-67 Firely. Our simulator fleet consists of FNPT II Alsim and Diamond Diamond DA42 simulators and a Boeing 737-800 NG simulator. Ensuring our students have access to the best of aircraft and simulation systems for the duration of their training.
  • Our onsite aircraft maintenance facility guarantees our fleet is always meticulously maintained, maximizing safety and minimizing training delays.

Experienced Dedicated Instructors

8. EXPERIENCED DEDICATED INSTRUCTORS

  • Our senior instructors are experienced ex-airline, private jet and military pilots who are committed to delivering the highest industry standards of instruction.
  • They will challenge and encourage you during every step of your commercial pilot training.
  • The instructor team are focused on creating a supportive and welcoming learning environment.

Testimonials

9. Testimonials

Let our graduates speak for us