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Deeny, who plans on becoming a commercial
airline pilot, is one of 186 aviation students
who were training until recently with the
Florida Institute of Technology. The
Ireland-based PTC had contracted with FIT
Aviation to offer the training, based on several
factors including FIT Aviation’s excellent
reputation.
“I’ve found the FIT Aviation staff to be very
professional,” Deeny said. “In fact, that’s one
of the things PTC sold us on when we signed up
for the program that FIT runs a very
professional program with excellent facilities.
And, they were right about that.”
Deeny, who has been training in Melbourne since
November 2011, has been organizing the former
PTC students who are now determining their next
steps after Florida Tech was forced to end its
relationship with PTC for not paying its bills.
Florida Tech estimates that PTC owes the
university at least $1.4 million for training
and housing that has already been provided. The
university spent months attempting to resolve
the ongoing payment issues with PTC, but with no
success. Florida Tech has filed legal action
against PTC.
As of July 11, as many as 95 of the students—31
self-pay students and 64 Air Astana students
were making plans to stay and continue their
training. The university extended an offer of
no-charge housing and meals to all affected PTC
students through Aug. 1, while simultaneously
working to help the students meet their visa
requirements.
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