From Tullamore to take off: How my Offaly neighbour can get their child into aviation
From Tullamore to take off: How my Offaly neighbour can get their child into aviation
‘Traditional University is not where I want to go’’ Shane tells his Dad John repeatedly, coming from a farming background.
Over a Sunday-lunch, John confides in me and asks, "What else can Shane do?!" Simple university is not his cup-of-tea?’ Having mentored more than 2500 aviation professionals in the last 26 years of my life, I say "then for him, its wild blue sky out there!"
The answer is closer than we think, living in Tullamore. Real-world career in aviation is "easy-peasy-lemon-squeasy" (I am over-stating that!) but it does give you a straight path from Leaving Cert to a job and more importantly a passion & purpose in life.
Interestingly UK students have "lost the edge" regulatory-wise due to the Brexit shemozzle, leaving the young lot from Ireland as the only EU-country which is native English-speaking majority with full EASA licensing.
Looking around, Offaly families can opt for any of the following aeronautics pathways.
Route 1: Pilot-Training with University Bursary
A Pilot-studies stream with a paid-placement in the business fundamentals syllabi is unique to DCU’s – Dublin City University – Aviation Management undergrad program. ATPL – Air Transport Pilot License – is the destination after flight training after the Year 3. Three flying schools, NFTE (National Flight Training Europe-Spain), AFTA (Atlantic Flight Training Academy-Cork) & NFC (National Flight Centre-Leixlip) are recommended by DCU. Airlines like Aer Lingus & Ryanair as well as cadetship programs in Air Corp have alumni from DCU already.
Route 2: Flight School Direct
An expensive but straight-in approach offered by AFTA – partners with Ryanair – in Cork costs about 84000 Euros and 18 months of time complete from start to finish known as the ‘zero-to-hero’ system. A bit less than this at 82000 Euros is the Weston Airport’s NFC. Pilot Path Group is another way forward in the correct direction with 60-70k Euros with the modular students program. Predicted air transport & travel demand is pumping which is indicated by the upcoming decade’s intended growth of 600-800 aeroplanes in Ryanair as well.
Route 3: AME – Aircraft Maintenance License
Quickfire and road least taken is this. The September 2026 induction is underway as I type for TU Dublin, SETU (Carlow) and College of FET run in accordance with Ryanairs 4-year program. Level 7 BSc in Aviation Technology alongwith the Cat B1 (Mechanical) or B2 (Avionics) EASA Part-66 AML (Aircraft Maintenance License) from Ireland’s premier Part-147 approved MTO (Maintenance Training Organisation) TU Dublin is on offer. Before graduating, hands on training practice after the academic theory learning done by students prepares them for the real-world experience in aeronautics. Individual assessment of mature students – 23 years plus – is also done. Four separate subjects being passed with to H-5 grades in a science subjects or Mathematics along a Leaving Certificate is the entry requirement. Application for Part-66 license are processed after OJT – On-Job-Training – and IAA exams for the graduates culminating the 04-year program. This your child’s pathway if instead of writing an essay about an engine, they would like to get their hands dirty with it.
Route 4: Air Traffic Management
OJT training remuneration of around 43000 Euros after 515 Euros per week student allowance initially is the hallmark of the AirNavs Student Controller Program offering. Similar to the AML route, H-5 in at least two Higher Level papers with 05 Leaving Cert passes with Maths are the entry pre-requisite. Shannon is training location with duration of 16-20 months; age limit 19-35 years.
The Final Frontier!
Unmanned space is to be kept a keen eye on for younger children’s parents. Start of 2026 saw the debut of USA-based BETA Tech production of the ALIA CTOL – Conventional Takeoff & Landing – vehicle. By the end of 2027, Ireland skies maybe seeing 05 passenger hauling air-taxis as per FMCI - Future Mobility Campus Ireland. Genext (Next Generation) eVTOL pilots from Offaly… Why not!
A weekly commuter to Bolton St, living on Droim Liath, sitting on the kitchen table I write this piece with glimmer in my eye that Aviation barriers are surmountable. Open days and early conversations are the way forward. Only Dreamers make Dreams come true. And out of personal experience… the best classroom has wings!
Note on author: Fahad ibne Masood, MRAeS, is a ex-fighter-pilot with 26 years of diverse aviation experience. Now living in Tullamore, he is faculty at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) in the Aviation Technology Programme, Exam Manager Part-66 and researching in Unmanned, Advanced Air Mobility, AI & Quantum Computing.
He is a published author on International Security matters of Strategy, Doctrine, Airpower to mention a few in publishing houses like Defence News, Flight International, Aerospace, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft Journal etc. Being a regular analyst on televised, print and social media channels, he is known to his friends as Sunny.
He and his family enjoy living in Tullamore and he commutes by train to the capital during the working week.