An Irish group has set up the third-largest pilot training school in Europe, writes Steven Carroll

THE LIBERALISATION and growth of the air travel market in recent years has been a godsend for the business and leisure pursuits of the average citizen, with most destinations now a short and generally affordable hop away. This growth, coupled with an increase in the number of daily flights, has also presented many opportunities to businesses operating in the aviation sector.

One such Irish group has capitalised on a dearth of qualified commercial pilots available worldwide and has established itself as the third-largest pilot training school in Europe.

The Pilot Training College of Ireland (PTC), established in 2002 at Waterford airport as part of the Shemburn Group, currently trains some 200 pilots annually.

This week it has announced further growth through a €1.5 million contract with Europe's largest regional airline, Flybe.

The agreement will initially see around 20 student pilots participating in a mentored cadetship scheme at the college each year on behalf of the airline.

Capt Mike Edgeworth, chief executive of the Shemburn Group, said the deal is only the first of a number of cadetship schemes being negotiated by the college, and that growth will continue in the future.

"This is an excellent endorsement for us at a time when there is a chronic worldwide shortage of pilots. We are confident we can double our current numbers to over 400 trainee pilots by 2010 and there is no reason why we cannot double that number again over time," Capt Edgeworth said.

At present, PTC alumni are successfully flying routes for Aer Lingus, Ryanair, British Airways, Aer Arann and a number of other international airlines.

Although its graduates have been successful, the training course comes at a hefty cost for would-be pilots, with students currently paying around €85,000 to complete the intensive 14- month training programme that, upon completion, allows them to fly in over 30 countries.

Included in the fees is accommodation, books, instructed flight time, intensive tuition in 14 subjects and access to a state-of-the-art flight simulator.

Students see the large enrolment fee as a good investment in their future and once they qualify, pilots expect to be earning in excess of €50,000 annually, which they say increases steeply over time.

Prior to changes in pilot licence regulation, commercial pilots trained in Ireland were only permitted to fly Irish-registered aircraft for a limited number of Irish operators.

However, since the college's development, the number of Irish carriers, and the demand for pilots, has greatly increased, with the college saying that between 10 and 16 pilots are required to keep a single commercial aircraft fully operation at all times.

PTC is one of three commercial pilot training facilities currently operating in the State and Capt Edgeworth said its development at Waterford airport has had many advantages, for both the trainee pilots and the business interests of PTC.

"Waterford is well positioned geographically in that it is accessible to a number of major airports and airspaces. The airspace here is not congested and students have plenty of latitude and undisturbed area to carry out manoeuvres in. We also have the benefit of being able to get pilots flying in busy airspace with a variety of possible destinations available depending on where they are in their training."

The college has expanded abroad by signing a €4.5 million agreement with the US-based FlightSafety International, the largest training organisation in the aviation sector.

Under this agreement, PTC students now travel to FlightSafety International's Florida centre to complete training modules, while US- based students also travel to Waterford where they receive European flight experience.

Capt Edgeworth said this development has provided students from the college with excellent experience of flying in a different climate and it also helps US students on their way to qualifying for an EU pilot's licence.

PTC is currently negotiating with Waterford authorities about acquiring planning permission on a site at the airport campus where it intends to build a new €10million training facility for its students.

"We have created a high-skill enterprise here in Waterford that is a true world centre of excellence and we hope in time to develop it into one of Europe's most sophisticated aviation training facilities," Capt Edgeworth said.