Over 100 pilot’s from across the world flew into Cork International Airport last weekend, then changed their airline uniform’s to Black Tie suit’s and glamour’s evening dresses for a Black Tie-Aviation Ball, honouring their former pilot instructors and all the staff at Atlantic Flight Training Academy for their 30 years in business operating at Cork and Waterford Airports.
Over 2,800 Pilot’s have been trained by AFTA to-date in Cork and Waterford airports, since the academy’s launch from modest beginnings in 1995, with a single Seneca training aircraft 30 years ago.
AFTA train’s commercial pilots in partnership with Munster Technological University (MTU) for the global airline industry. The event was attended by MTU colleagues, as well as, senior representatives from AFTA’s airline partners, Ryanair, ASL Airlines Ireland,VistaJet and Air Astana along with guests from Cork Airport, the DAA, Aer Lingus, and many more from across the aviation industry. AFTA also praised the supportive role of its non-airline partners over the past 30 years including, the IAA, AirNav Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and representing the French Ambassador, Hon. Consul of France in Cork, Josselin Le Gall.
It was a day of double celebrations for AFTA staff and pilot cadets as the academy marked its 30th anniversary alongside the graduation of the Class of 2023-2024. Families of students from Ireland and abroad traveled to Cork to witness their loved ones graduate and celebrate their achievements as they embark on careers with leading global airlines.
Sean Kelly, Ireland South MEP, who was guest of honour at the event, hosted at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island, commended Mark Casey, AFTA CEO and his team for 30 years in business at Cork airport and spoke about AFTA’s Pilot training partnerships with leading world airlines, such as, Ryanair, Air Astana, ASL Airlines Ireland, VistaJet and GlobeAir as well as, the Academy’s leadership in sustainable
aviation training practices, investment in new flight Simulators, and a fleet of modern training aircraft.
AFTA has also been shortlisted for the Sustainable Initiative Award at the Pilot Careers Live Awards 2025 in London. It is the first EASA-approved flight training academy in Europe to embed Sustainability and Environmental awareness into every stage of pilot education. The academy has set an ambitious goal of converting its entire fleet to SAF-compatible power plants in the coming years.
Sean Kelly’s speech was followed by words of congratulations from AFTA’s CEO Mark Casey, Pio Fenton (MTU), Tony Regan (Air Astana) and Michael O’Brien (Ryanair),
In a speech to the Class of 2023/2024 Cadet graduates, AFTA founder and CEO, Captain Mark Casey, commented:
“First, I would like to take a moment to recognise the remarkable achievements of our graduating cadets. Becoming a pilot requires determination, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. You should be incredibly proud of what you have achieved. This is just the beginning of an exciting career, and we have no doubt you will go on to accomplish great things.”
Captain Casey also praised and acknowledged the support of AFTA’s staff and partners over the past 30 years in business, he continued:
“The great people we have within AFTA is certainly the secret of our success. I would like to take the time to acknowledge your contribution towards AFTA’s success.
It must be said that there is no doubt that AFTA would not be at the scale it is without the success, support and growth of our airline partner’s over the past 30 years. The aviation powerhouse that is
Ryanair continues to go from strength to strength, Ryanair has been a huge supporter of AFTA since its inception and we are ever grateful for the continued cadet programmes we offer as a partner school in the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy. We have been joined at the hip for 30
years and it is often said internally, we share the same DNA.
Our Global partners Air Astana, VistaJet, ASL Airlines and GlobeAir are invaluable to AFTA and we are eternally grateful for their support. Air Astana, (the largest airline group in Central Asia and the
Caucasus), which is our longest airline partner, and we are proud to have trained hundreds of pilots for this prestigious national carrier who continue to grow from strength to strength.
While AFTA is reliant on our Airline partners, all our non-airline partners are equally as important.
These include the IAA, our university partner MTU, the DAA, Cork Airport, AirNav Ireland, Representing the French Ambassador, Hon. Consul of France in Cork, Josselin Le Gall and Enterprise Ireland and all the external regulatory bodies we work closely with .
Without their continued support we could not educate the next generation of airline pilots successfully.”