Your questions answered by Brian Mooney:
My daughter has expressed an interest in becoming an airline pilot since early childhood. I expected this ambition to fade, but her interest has grown stronger and I now believe that she will seek to follow her dream. I am finding it very difficult to source information on how to become a pilot today. Can you help me with some basic information on her possible options?
The days of young people being recruited into Aer Lingus to train as airline pilots are now a distant memory. I do not believe that they have any trainee pilots now, and I do not anticipate that they will be recruiting any in the near future. The Irish Air Corps sporadically hires cadets, but demand a five-year permanent contract, followed by a seven-year contract with the reserves. One cannot predict when such recruitment may occur.
There are two training programmes to commercial level. Following that, a graduate of either of the programmes who wished to become an airline pilot would have to take an ATPL examination (Airline Transport Pilots Licence Written).
There are a number of entry qualifications to train as a pilot today. To start with a prospective pilot must be fluent in English - the international language of all pilots. Candidates must also pass a First Class Aviation Medical, which costs in the region of €500 at the Mater Private Hospital.
I spoke to a pilot who has recently completed the training programme. He said that becoming a pilot is not rocket science, but the volume of information to be retained is large and that you should have a reasonable standard of maths (not necessarily honours level) and a good technical/mechanical understanding. Generally there is no start or end date for a course, you start the day of your choosing and proceed at a pace that is suitable for you and your pocket. Some exams are time-limited, in that you must pass the written exams and then the flight test in a specified period.
If your daughter wishes to operate as an airline pilot in Ireland today, the best chance she has of gaining employment is with Ryanair. She must have at least 1,000 hours on a Jar 25-type aircraft, or else she must pay for her own type rating - approximately €40,000 towards training on a 737 jet aircraft. She will start to be paid after she has qualified to operate the aircraft without the safety pilot - after a minimum of 30 passenger flights.
Pilot Training College (PTC), Ireland, is a pilot training school equipped to provide a wide range of instruction. Based in Waterford Airport, the college operates single- and multi-engine aircrafts for their flight instructor and flight examiner programmes. All training courses conducted at PTC are approved by the Irish Aviation Authority and, where applicable, are completed in accordance with the requirements of the joint aviation regulations for flight crew licences. It takes a minimum of 250 hours to complete the basic training for a commercial pilot's licence with an additional 25 hours for twin-engine and 35 hours for flight instructor training. The minimum cost of the full training programme is approximately €56,000 (living expenses, travel, flight-testing, and headsets are extra).
Pilot Recruitment Ireland (PRI) is another excellent option. Students complete their training in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. Canada trains pilots to a high standard and as home to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), they help set those standards. Because of these factors, a Canadian licence is one of the most highly regarded and easily transferable.
Students enrolling with PRI complete their training at Algonquin Flight Centre. It is the only private flight school in Canada that offers this training programme to overseas students. The three-year, part-time course requires 200 hours of training with an additional 25 hours for twin-engine training. A one-year, full-time, course requires the same plus an optional 35 hours for flight instructor training. The total cost is €51,000 and includes airfare to and from Canada, all required insurance, 10 months' accommodation, food, headsets and the flight school fees. The part-time course is limited to 20 students. Timed for the summer college break, it allows candidates to obtain a university degree as well as the flight training at the end of three years. This is a huge benefit when applying for a commercial piloting position with a major airline.
Useful websites: Pilot Training College Ireland - www.pilottraining.ie
Pilot Recruitment Ireland - www.pilotrecruitmentireland.com
Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie
