This Review Overall Rating
I was part of the Ab-Initio Ryanair Mentored Programme beginning in September 2019. The course took 20 months in total, accounting for a slight delay in operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I graduated in May 2021 and after taking some time off, passed my Ryanair assessment in October 2021.
The standard of training provided at AFTA is second to none. There is a very welcoming and helpful atmosphere among both staff and students, which gives you the confidence you need to do well.
The mix of both conventional and glass cockpit G1000 Cessna 172's enables you as a pilot to learn both classic and modern cockpit designs, which going forward provides you with more flexibility when it comes to flying new aircraft in the future. For the multi-engine training, you are given the choice between the classic PA34 Seneca and the new state of the art Diamond DA42, which again gives flexibility in terms of aircraft availability and personal preference.
The instructors have your best interests at heart, and aren't satisfied unless they feel you have gotten the maximum benefit from your lesson. This pushes you to do your best, however there is always a friendly atmosphere on the ground and in the cockpit, which puts you at ease.
The theoretical training provided is comprehensive and detailed, while being presented in a clear and progressive manner. The knowledge and experience of the instructors is of huge benefit, as they share stories and industry tips and tricks in order to keep you interested and motivated.
Along with weather cancellations, sometimes the frequency of flight bookings can vary, however a phone call to the operations department usually sorts this out quickly. The varied weather also allows you to experience real IFR and challenging winds which massively benefits you as you progress.
After taking a break over the summer, I contacted AFTA and told them of my intentions to prepare for the Ryanair assessment. Their assessment preparation is amazing. It's incredibly focused and to the point, and will advise you to take the assessment only when they have no doubt you will be successful. They went out of their way to fit in late night simulator, technical knowledge and HR sessions all the way up to the night before my assessment. With this confidence, I passed first time and begin my Type Rating with Ryanair next month. I would in particular like to thank Richie, Philip, Suzanne and Sarah for their help in this preparation.
In summary, the experience I had at AFTA was great. From start to finish, they provided me with first class training, and thankfully it has lead me to the right hand seat of a major European airline.
Course(s) taken:
General
Aircraft
Simulators
Theoretical Training
Practical Training
