Pictured (L-R): Niall Cummins, Chief Flight Examiner, Irish Aviation Authority, Simon Coveney, TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food, Marine and Defence, Jerry Moloney, Director South, South East and Midlands, Enterprise Ireland and Mark J Casey, CEO and Head of Training AFTA.

Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) announced a significant contract win with award-winning Turkish Airlines, to train its cadet pilots from AFTA’s base in Cork Airport. The Cadet Pilot Training agreement with Turkish Airlines, represents the first for an Irish company, which is regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority under the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA), an Enterprise Ireland supported company, will recruit 10 new highly skilled Instructor Pilots, and additional ground support staff, as a direct result of the new commercial agreement with Turkish Airlines. AFTA has been initially contracted to train 20 Cadet Pilots annually and the first group of Turkish trainee pilots have recently commenced training at AFTA’s base at Cork airport.

Mark Casey, CEO Atlantic Flight Training Academy and Head of Pilot Training, said: “Since our foundation in 1995, AFTA have trained over 1,800 high-calibre graduate pilots for global airlines, in our modern fleet of Cessna and Piper aircraft, as well as, investing in the latest flight training equipment, including state-of-the-art Boeing 737 NG and FNPT II fixed base simulators. We are delighted that our commitment to advanced cadet training and safety, has been recognised by Turkish airlines through signing this commercial agreement, and we look forward to helping these cadets progress and build their future careers with Turkish Airlines.

Murat Balandi, General Manager, Turkish Airlines Ireland, said: “Turkish Airlines will celebrate ten years in Ireland in 2016, and we are delighted that an Irish company has been chosen to train 20 of our new cadet pilots this year. Our pilots are trained to the highest standards available in the industry for our fleet of 299 passenger and cargo aircraft which fly to 280 destinations worldwide with 232 international and 48 domestic. It is really beneficial for us to see the cadets in their training ground at AFTA in Cork and we look forward to see them in the air as Turkish Airlines pilots over the years to come”.