I don’t see why this is our governments problem it’s a private matter

Take legal advice… Not the governments problem, can’t see them getting much support from people

They are better off protesting at the college in Waterford.

It makes no sense it would be like if I did a masters which cost 15,000 and then didn’t get a job after it I couldn’t say to the government alrite you have to pick up the tab for that please!!!

Very unfortunate for them but can’t see this gaining traction if the state is still reluctant to pay out for those symphisiotomy women (excuse spelling) or people who suffered disabilities because of that drug whose name escapes me(was on the news last week)

Its not the governments responsibility,Any potential employer will see these clowns as trouble,never pay up front for flight training,they broke rule 1

Seems that this matter is still up in the air.

Welcome to privatised education. You pays your money, you takes your chances. Isnt’ that how the market that we all worship is supposed to work? Business is risky, by definition. If you invest in it, you are taking a risk.

Time was the airlines footed the bill by actually training people. Now, like other businesses, they expect people to pay through the nose to be equipped to work for them.

A private flight school in Waterford took their money, and because it was government regulated they expect the taxpayer to come up with the compo? Good judgement and responsibility shown there lads, I’m glad you won’t be flying any plane I’m travelling on.

Do feel sorry for them. It is a solicitor they should be consulting though. Nothing to do with the government.

Most members of the public could never front ?80000 for job training (buying their way into a good career). Not much support from Joe Public over what is a private matter. I feel sorry for them, but that’s it. I’m already paying enough bills that aren’t mine thanks.

I don’t think these students are doing themselves any favours , this is not the governments fault and no taxpayers money should be given to them . They speculated their money with the hope of becoming pilots like so many did in the property markets and lost a lot of money and the government never bailed these people in negative equity out so chase after the flight schools directors and not the government .

I really feel sorry for them and 80k is a lot of money to lose but this is not the Governments fault. They paid money to be privately educated to be a pilot so this is a private matter between them and the college. In these hard times they are not going to get public support. For Gods sake, Special Need Children are having to face cutbacks in their education and these guys are trying to get the Government to short out this PRIVATE matter. Sorry guys but Ye need to try something else.

Yes. Like a fly-by protest!

It is a private venture these guys entered into and no the taxpayer shouldn’t foot the bill.
However, for those close to the industry it will highlight what is well known in the industry and that is the ‘light touch regulation’ of the Irish Aviation Authority. They have really taken their eye off the ball. Capt. Evan Cullen of the Irish Airline Pilots Association has highlighted this today in the Examiner and also in the past that safety standards have fallen in Irish aviation in recent years. It is down to light touch regulation. Have a look at all the aircraft in all parts of the world on the Irish register. Why? Because they love Ireland? No.
Because if you want to operate under the Irish system the Irish Aviation Authority will lightly regulate.

A fly past ?

There is a paragraph in the JAR-FCL(Joint Aviation Regulations – Flight Crew Licensing) document that may bare some relevance to the current situation: “An FTO (flight training organisation) shall satisfy the authority that sufficient funding is available to conduct training to the approved standards” (See IEM NO. 2 to JAR-FCL 1.055). In this case the authority is the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority).

There was a flight training organisation that went belly up in the UK earlier this year called “Cabair” and when the students came together as a group and employed the “Fischer Meredith“ law firm in London. They successfully managed to sue the CAA (The UK’s equivalent of the IAA) for negligence and failure of duty regarding the licensing of Cabair.

I rest my case.

It could be a busy day outside the Dail so on Wednesday, the question is how busy will it be inside?

They have nobody to blame but themselves Its not the Governments fault.

I’m sure this won’t be a popular comment but i can’t help but think the only reason for all the comments above is because of the nature of the work/course and the stereotype image it portrays.

Its almost like people are getting a sense of satisfaction from this. Comparing it to gambling on the property market? Lol

When we see staff protesting when getting shafted by companies trying to avoid redundancies we get behind them. And yes politicians do get involved.

If you had a brother or sister who were shafted by the system in this way, and you saw how this could financially ruin people you’d be supporting their desire to get varadkar on board. They’re completely right to protest. It draws attention to it, give em a break Jesus.

Mick.
This is the line always peddled by the IAA. ‘we recieve no state funding. We generate our own income’.
They have been handed an industry to regulate. They can charge what they want. They have no competition.
If you want to fly then you pay them whatever they want to charge or you don’t fly. They charge whatever they like for anything or you don’t fly.
People have no idea how expensive it is to do anything in aviation
There is no competition to the IAA. You pay their prices or you don’t fly.
Furthermore, instead of saying they recieve no state funding, I would take it a step further. Why are they not making a return to the state? They have been given the skies over Ireland to charge traffic that flies overhead. Why no return to the state coffers?
Because they pay themselves huge salaries. They have been given an industry where they are they have no competition, charge what they want, and divide up the profits without anything going back to the tax payer and where the average salary in the IAA is €90k p.a.

Apologies. I stand corrected. The average salary at the IAA is €120k p.a.
with no contribution going to the state.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2011/0429/1224295671539.html

If i ever get scammed i will blame the goverment, and will accept no personal responsibility.

Again I lay the blame for this at the IAA.
They are incompetent.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/iaa-was-warned-on-colleges-finances-200051.html

Last night, a spokeswoman for the IAA said all requests for financial details sought by the IAA from PTC had been received and fully complied with last year.

What does that mean?
Again, the IAA has to be called into account. The ‘safety’ standards in Ireland has been called into question in recent years. Yes- that terrible word to use in aviation- Safety.
It has been criticised severely.
Light touch regulation is alive an well.

The protest is a great idea, how ever just happens to be on the same day as the CoderDojo thats on up there, not a great thing for all the kids to be caught in the middle of.

Did no one read the article? It says the state licensed the training facility in question, therefore they are responsible in some way. These students aren’t particularly looking for their money back, they just want to finish their course. I don’t see anything wrong with that. If I paid 80k for a course, Jesus the least you want is to finish the damn thing

Loop the Loop

IF they get some help from the government sure they’ll be flying it, they’ll be on cloud 9.

This is such a good story! You’re the best journalist EVER, Michelle :)

Aren’t all universities and colleges approved by the state. Image TCD, UCD or any uni/college in Ireland for that matter goes belly up. The whole country would be up in arms and the government would have to work to find a solution. This same applies here. The Irish state approved this course and should foot the bill. Sorry but it’s that simple, even in this difficult economic times we’re in.

They need to keep their feet firmly on the ground and stand together against these incompetent airheads who botched the course deal. Hopefully, united, they can generate enough upheaval so that the course can be reinstated & completed as scheduled.

It seems the Waterford Pilot Training cannot be t(h)rusted!

True. I agree.
But what is also true is that the IAA are incompetent and a light touch regulator. Letters have gone to Flight International the leading aviation journal criticising the regulation effectiveness of the IAA and they haven’t even responded. Believe me. I know.

Good for them. Raise the needed awareness!

I never said safety with PTC.
I said aviation safety under the IAA.
In the industry the IAA is well understood to be a very relaxed regulator. Why are we still surprised at light touch regulation in Ireland?

Again. I never mentioned PTC ref. safety. Besides, the Flying school in the USA were the ones providing the training.