“PTCW has a contract in place with the Florida Institute
of Technology (FIT) to deliver the flight training in
Florida. On June 26th the IAA were informed that FIT
were ceasing all training activities in Florida for PTCW
due to a commercial dispute concerning payments. The
IAA immediately sent a senior inspector to establish the
training situation and he has now met the students.
There are 180 students approximately in the Florida
facility and 37 currently in Waterford at various stages
of training. The students comprise both sponsored
students from international airlines and those with
individual commercial contracts with PTCW.
Students have paid PTCW for training and PTCW
have a commercial relationship with FIT to provide
flight / ground training etc. Contracts between
self-sponsored or airline sponsored students and their
training organization are matters outside the remit of
the IAA.
“At a meeting today (Wednesday 4th July 2012) with PTCW,
and their financial / legal advisers the IAA, (in
accordance with JAR, Joint Aviation Requirements Flight
Crew Licensing) sought evidence and assurances that
sufficient funding is available to continue operations
in Waterford, given that the Florida operations have
ceased. PTCW informed the IAA that
they were investigating restructuring options but that
this process would take 10 days to complete. The IAA has
suspended the flight training approval for PTCW
immediately. The IAA will re-engage with any proposals
emerging from this process but in the interim training
in Waterford is suspended.
“The IAA will try to ensure that all training conducted
to date in Waterford and Florida will be credited to the
individuals training records and our staff are now
working on this. The students at the centre
of this and their families are a primary concern for
us," said Kevin Humphreys, Director of Safety
Regulation, IAA. "As soon as we became aware that there
was an issue, we moved straight away to assess what
solutions we could find that would allow the students to
bank the training credits they have already achieved in
Florida, and to allow them to finish their training.
"We
are still working on both of these issues but it looks
like students may well now be facing a loss which PTCW
informed us today that they will endeavor to mitigate as
part of the restructuring process.
The IAA hopes that a satisfactory outcome can be
achieved to enable students to complete their training
and we will continue to assist in every way possible
including directing students to alternative providers.”
July 5, 2012 – Update - Florida Institute of Technology
released the following statement: “Following the recent
termination of its educational agreement with Pilot
Training College, Florida Institute of Technology
continues to work with PTC students to evaluate future
training options. Florida Tech recently ended its
relationship with PTC after the organization quit paying
its bills, including costs for flight training and room
and board. Currently, PTC owes the university
approximately $1.2 million.
“These funds owed the university are for services already
rendered—any monies students paid PTC for training stay
on deposit with PTC until services are rendered by
Florida Tech. Any assertion that Florida Tech has failed
to act professionally or otherwise appropriately
throughout its relationship with PTC is false. The university has spent months attempting to resolve the
ongoing payment issues with PTC, but with no success.
Florida Tech’s priority remains assisting the affected
flight students in any way possible. Legal action
against PTC is anticipated. Given this, no additional
comment is planned at this time.”
July 9, 2012 – Update -
Florida Institute of Technology released the following
statement: Florida Institute of Technology
continues to assist the 186 flight students whose
training has ended after their contracting flight
company, PTC, quit paying its bills. As of July 9, as
many as 89 of the students 25 self-pay students and 64
Air Astana students were making plans to stay and
continue their training. Meanwhile, the university
extended its offer of housing to all affected students
through Aug. 1, while simultaneously working to help the
students meet their visa requirements.
“We want to give these students as much time as we can
to consider all of their options, while also giving them
as much support as we can,” said Wes Sumner, Florida
Tech spokesman. A revised estimate indicates that PTC
owes the university approximately $1.4 million for
services already rendered— Florida Tech received no
advance fees that PTC collected from students prior to
entering the program. The university has spent months
attempting to resolve the ongoing payment issues with
PTC, but with no success. Sumner said Florida Tech’s
priority remains assisting the affected flight students
in any way possible. Legal action against PTC has been
initiated.
July
10, 2012 - Update - Statement on arrangements for Pilot
Training College students - "The Minister for
Transport, Tourism and Sport, has requested that the The
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)
make arrangements
to help repatriate any self-funded PTC students at
Florida Institute of Technology who wish to return home.
To facilitate this, the IAA has made arrangements with
Aer Lingus to accommodate students on flights from
Orlando to Dublin between 11th July and 1st August 2012.
"Students who wish to avail of this offer must register
their details with the Irish Aviation Authority at
info@iaa.ie Onward travel arrangements for those not
domiciled in Ireland may also be arranged. The IAA has
notified the students of these arrangements via the
Florida Institute of Technology's information portal.
For self-funded PTC students who have already returned
from Orlando, Florida, may have their air fare refunded
to the value of a one way economy class fare by
submitting their details to info@iaa.ie Students may
also contact the IAA Helpline at 01 603 1111 from 09:00
a.m. - 5:30 p.m. tomorrow 11th July 2012 for further
information."
July 13, 2012 – Update - on arrangements for Florida Pilot
Training College students IAA stated “Following a
request by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and
Sport, the IAA has been making arrangements to help
repatriate any self-funded PTC students at Florida
Institute of Technology who are unable to continue their
current pilot training and wish to return home. To
facilitate this, arrangements have been made with Aer
Lingus to accommodate students on flights from Orlando
to Dublin between 11th July and 1st August 2012.
Students who wish to avail of this offer must register
their intention to travel with the Irish Aviation
Authority at info@iaa.ie no later than 5:00 p.m. on
Tuesday 17th July 2012, in order to ensure that seats
can be secured on return flights.
"Onward travel arrangements for those not domiciled in
Ireland may also be arranged. The IAA has notified the
students of these arrangements via the Florida Institute
of Technologys information portal. Self-funded PTC
students who have already returned from Orlando,
Florida, may have their air fare refunded to the value
of a one way economy class fare by submitting their
details to info@iaa.ie Please note that the current
priority is to ensure timely arrangements are made to
repatriate those affected students who are unable to
continue their current pilot training and who wish to
return home. Once this is completed, the IAA will
process refund applications from those students who had
already left the USA since 26th June 2012. Students may
also contact the IAA Helpline at +353 1 603 1111 from
10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday - Friday for further
information”
July 18, 2012 - Update - At a hearing in the High Court
today an Interim Examiner was appointed to handle the
affairs of PTC Ireland. IAA will work with the Interim
Examiner in assessing the options available in respect
of the suspended approvals issued by the Authority.
Creditors of PTC Ireland will be notified of the outcome
of the hearing and advised of their options. Enquiries
relating to financial difficulties being experienced by
students with regard to the provision of their training
should be addressed directly to the Interim Examiner.
July 27, 2012 - Update on the arrangements for repatriation
of Pilot Training College (Florida) Students. IAA would
advise that the arrangements set out below will be
applied to finalise the repatriation of PTC (Florida)
students. The latest date for flight bookings is now
revised to 15 August 2012 for a one-way economy class
flight. The final date for embarking on the return
flight is 30 September 2012. Students are required to
book and pay for their own flights for which the IAA
will refund up to the value of €750. Students will be
required to notify the IAA
info@iaa.ie
of their intended flight arrangements prior to
travel to qualify for the scheme.
(see
Irish Pilots Look To Future After Pilot Training College
Program Ends)
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