7 August 2026
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
The Cork HQ’ed Atlantic Flight Training Academy, along with Elevate, and Clonmel Credit Union have signed Memorandum of Understanding
Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA), Elevate and Clonmel Credit Union have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a significant step forward in the development of a dedicated finance solution for aspiring commercial airline pilot students in Ireland.
The initiative follows a recommendation contained within the Pathfinder for Irish Aviation report, a strategic roadmap for the future development of Ireland’s aviation sector commissioned by Irelandia and authored by aviation experts Joe Gill and Eamonn Brennan. The report identified access to pilot training finance as one of the key barriers facing aspiring pilots and called for the development of innovative funding solutions to support future generations entering the profession.
The cost of professional pilot training can exceed €100,000, placing it beyond the reach of many talented young people despite strong demand for pilots across the global aviation industry.
The project has been developed through collaboration between AFTA, Clonmel Credit Union, Elevate, Irelandia and key stakeholders involved in advancing the recommendations of the Pathfinder report.
Mark Casey, Founder and CEO of AFTA, said:
“For many years, we’ve seen talented individuals with the ability and determination to become professional pilots but without a clear pathway to finance their training. This agreement marks an important milestone in addressing that challenge and opens up new opportunities for future generations of pilots.”
Padraig Enright, CEO of Clonmel Credit Union, said:
“This scheme shows the power of credit unions when they work hand in hand with the right partners. By combining our community-rooted lending model with AFTA’s world-class training expertise, we’re opening the flight deck to talented young people who might otherwise never get the chance. That’s the cooperative difference — capital with a conscience, inclusive and creating opportunities”
Roy McKnight, CEO of Elevate Credit Union said:
“Credit unions have always punched above their weight, and the Aspiring Pilot Loan Scheme is a perfect example of what’s possible when we think ambitiously. It demonstrates that cooperatives can innovate and compete, staying true to what we’re here for: members and our communities.”
Joe Gill, co-author of the Pathfinder for Irish Aviation report, welcomed the agreement:
“This is a tremendous step forward in providing finance to aspiring commercial pilots in Ireland. The “Pathfinder” report identified such a fund as key to unlocking the opportunity to expand pilot training at Irish airports and support the growth of Irish and global airlines.
It is fitting that credit unions are central to this fund because they have always provided finance that gives opportunity to all income and demographic cohorts.”
The signing of the MOU represents the beginning of a formal collaboration between the organisations, with further details on the pilot finance initiative expected to be discussed at the upcoming Atlantic Flight Training Academy Open Day in Cork on August 8, 2026.
About Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA)
Atlantic Flight Training Academy, founded in 1995, is Ireland’s largest – and one of Europe’s leading – Independent Flight Training Organisations. The Academy is approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) and is headquartered at Cork International Airport with a secondary base at Waterford Airport.
The Academy has been training international cadets since 1995, with contracts including ASL Ireland,