<p>Depending on which airline, pilot union, industry association or analyst you listen to, there is a major shortage of airline pilots – or there isn’t. Some will tell you a shortage is here, some say it is on its way and others say it’s not actually happening. Most seem to err on the side of there being a shortage right now.</p>
<p><img alt="Pegasus-AFT" src="/getasset/6d5d774a-c4fe-4680-90ec-7b7525b74f95/" /><br />
<em>Photo shows (l–r): Mehmet Nane, CEO, Pegasus Airlines; Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Ireland; and Mark Casey, managing director, AFTA.</em></p>
<p>Wherever the truth lies, when you’re an airline inducting the single largest-ever aircraft order in your country’s civil aviation history, getting hold of plenty of pilots is essential. That’s the situation in which Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines currently finds itself.</p>
<p>In 2012, the airline ordered 100 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, 75 of which were firm, the remainder being options. The remaining 25 options were confirmed as firm orders in 2017 as A321neos. Deliveries of the orders will stretch out to 2024.</p>
<p>Pegasus has therefore turned to Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) and the pair have announced a new Pilot Training Partnership to train cadets for their future careers as commercial pilots. The initial 20 pilot candidates will receive 18 months of extensive training in Cork, Ireland.</p>
<p>The new programme will see the successful cadet applicants fly AFTA’s next generation glass cockpit Cessna 172s for the initial phase of the flight training, followed by the Diamond Twin star DA42s for the advanced phases.</p>
<p>The launch of the AFTA–Pegasus Airlines Partnership even drew national attention in Ireland with the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney attending. Welcoming the development, the Minister remarked, “Ireland is internationally recognised throughout the aviation industry, with 50% of the world’s leased aircraft fleet managed from this country, which is a remarkable achievement for a small nation.</p>
<p>“Equally impressive is the global ambition of the Atlantic Flight Training Academy, who next year will celebrate 25 years training Irish and international cadets for their future careers as pilots with leading world airlines. AFTA has put Cork on the map as a global hub of excellence in pilot training through its successful ‘Mentored Pilot Programmes’ with its leading airline partners, including Ryanair, Stobart Air and [now with its] new partnership with Turkey’s leading low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines,” he added</p>
<p>Pegasus Airlines’ CEO Mehmet Nane commented, “Generating employment in the sector has been among our main goals at Pegasus Airlines in recent years. In this context, pilot training programmes are of vital importance to us. As part of the pilot training agreement we signed with AFTA, our Turkish pilot candidates will be trained in Cork for around 18 months, which is a source of great pride for us.” The airline has a long history with Ireland, having had Aer Lingus as one of its original shareholders.</p>
<p>“We wish the greatest success to our students who have devoted their lives to becoming a pilot, a profession of great responsibility, and we look forward to seeing them on our Pegasus flights,” Nane added.</p>
<p>“We are proud to have been selected by Pegasus Airlines to train cadets for their future careers as commercial pilots,” remarked Mark Casey, managing director of AFTA. “Our new partnership with Pegasus Airlines is testament to AFTA’s successful record of helping leading global airlines to train their pilots to the highest possible EASA standards in a training environment designed to challenge and enhance their cadets flying skills.”</p>
<p>As noted, Atlantic Flight Training Academy is approaching its 25th anniversary. During those years, it has trained in excess of 2,000 pilots for commercial airlines.</p>
<p><img alt="Pegasus-AFT" src="/getasset/6d5d774a-c4fe-4680-90ec-7b7525b74f95/" /><br />
<em>Photo shows (l–r): Mehmet Nane, CEO, Pegasus Airlines; Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Ireland; and Mark Casey, managing director, AFTA.</em></p>
<p>Wherever the truth lies, when you’re an airline inducting the single largest-ever aircraft order in your country’s civil aviation history, getting hold of plenty of pilots is essential. That’s the situation in which Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines currently finds itself.</p>
<p>In 2012, the airline ordered 100 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, 75 of which were firm, the remainder being options. The remaining 25 options were confirmed as firm orders in 2017 as A321neos. Deliveries of the orders will stretch out to 2024.</p>
<p>Pegasus has therefore turned to Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) and the pair have announced a new Pilot Training Partnership to train cadets for their future careers as commercial pilots. The initial 20 pilot candidates will receive 18 months of extensive training in Cork, Ireland.</p>
<p>The new programme will see the successful cadet applicants fly AFTA’s next generation glass cockpit Cessna 172s for the initial phase of the flight training, followed by the Diamond Twin star DA42s for the advanced phases.</p>
<p>The launch of the AFTA–Pegasus Airlines Partnership even drew national attention in Ireland with the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney attending. Welcoming the development, the Minister remarked, “Ireland is internationally recognised throughout the aviation industry, with 50% of the world’s leased aircraft fleet managed from this country, which is a remarkable achievement for a small nation.</p>
<p>“Equally impressive is the global ambition of the Atlantic Flight Training Academy, who next year will celebrate 25 years training Irish and international cadets for their future careers as pilots with leading world airlines. AFTA has put Cork on the map as a global hub of excellence in pilot training through its successful ‘Mentored Pilot Programmes’ with its leading airline partners, including Ryanair, Stobart Air and [now with its] new partnership with Turkey’s leading low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines,” he added</p>
<p>Pegasus Airlines’ CEO Mehmet Nane commented, “Generating employment in the sector has been among our main goals at Pegasus Airlines in recent years. In this context, pilot training programmes are of vital importance to us. As part of the pilot training agreement we signed with AFTA, our Turkish pilot candidates will be trained in Cork for around 18 months, which is a source of great pride for us.” The airline has a long history with Ireland, having had Aer Lingus as one of its original shareholders.</p>
<p>“We wish the greatest success to our students who have devoted their lives to becoming a pilot, a profession of great responsibility, and we look forward to seeing them on our Pegasus flights,” Nane added.</p>
<p>“We are proud to have been selected by Pegasus Airlines to train cadets for their future careers as commercial pilots,” remarked Mark Casey, managing director of AFTA. “Our new partnership with Pegasus Airlines is testament to AFTA’s successful record of helping leading global airlines to train their pilots to the highest possible EASA standards in a training environment designed to challenge and enhance their cadets flying skills.”</p>
<p>As noted, Atlantic Flight Training Academy is approaching its 25th anniversary. During those years, it has trained in excess of 2,000 pilots for commercial airlines.</p>