Sky is the limit for 12 new recruits

AER Lingus has welcomed 12 new recruits, including four from the Northside, for its 2016 Cadet Pilot Training Programme. 

This year’s campaign attracted a huge response with over 2,800 applications for the 12 places available.

Aoife Duff from Rush, Andrew Power from Raheny, Manuel Beltran from Balbriggan, and Rachel Cull, from Sutton, are among the 12 people that were chosen. 

This month, the cadets are beginning a 14-month training course with FTEJerez, a leading flight training organisation, based in Jerez, Spain. 

The training includes five months of ground school followed by initial flight training on single and multi-engine aircraft and aircraft simulators. 

The cadets will then return to Dublin to complete further training including an airline transition course, and their A320 Type Rating course.  

This will include technical knowledge and simulator training and examination. Following successful completion of this course, the cadets will receive their wings and commence flying the airline’s fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft. 

This is the fourth Aer Lingus Cadet Pilot Training Programme to commence since 2011. 

Together with the re-launch of the airline’s aircraft maintenance and engineering apprentice scheme in 2011 and the recently launched IT graduate programme, this forms part of the airline’s overall commitment to develop talent from within.

Chief Operating Officer at Aer Lingus Mike Rutter said they have a proud history of providing young people with long term career opportunities through pilot cadetships, apprentice engineer programmes and other graduate training programmes.  

“We believe in investing in the future and providing young people with the opportunity to enjoy long and fulfilling careers in aviation,” said Mr Rutter. 

“We wish our newest team members continued success as they embark on this exciting journey to become the next generation of Aer Lingus pilots and captains.”