Caption for image: Where you train makes a difference to where you’ll go –  VA and Ryanair partnership for APS MCC mentored programme takes flight, pictured (from L-R): John Dooly, General Manager Ops Development, Ryanair, Faethon Thanos, FOPs SME, Ryanair, Angelo Currao, Pilot Recruitment Coordinator, Ryanair, Lisa Gilmore,  Senior Airline Training Adviser, VA, Anthony Petteford, Executive Director VA, Senan O’Shea, Head of Training, Ryanair, Ben Boness – Executive Director, VA and Mark Duffy – Head of Talent Acquisition, Ryanair.

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (26 June) announced a major new training partnership with VA Airline Training to deliver a Ryanair Airline Pilot Standards (APS MCC) programme in Cambridge. The partnership will ensure Ryanair continues to attract highly trained professional pilots to support its continued growth across Europe.

This new EASA approved enhanced MCC programme gives trainee pilots a structured path to achieve an exceptional training course and reach a standard where they are ready to join the Ryanair Boeing 737 Type Rating programme.

Pilots on the programme will be trained by VA Airline Training instructors, using Ryanair procedures as they take their first steps towards becoming Ryanair pilots. Over the course of the next 3 years, over 300 new pilots from across Europe will be assessed and trained by VA Airline Training, underlining its respected position in the pilot training market.

Ryanair offers unparalleled career opportunities for new pilots, with:

• 86 bases across 37 states
• Industry leading training standards and success rates
• The best rosters in European aviation – 5 days on, followed by 4 days off
• Industry leading pay of up to €200,000 p.a. as Captain
• Fastest Time to Command Upgrade, 3 to 4 years
• Structured Command Upgrade programme
• Europe’s youngest, modern fleet which will include the state-of-the-art Boeing 737 “Gamechanger”

Ryanair’s Head of Crew Training Captain, Senan O’Shea said:

“This new Ryanair-VA Airline Training programme will provide a steady pipeline of talented and professional pilots from around Europe to meet the needs of our growing network. Ryanair will hire up to 1,000 pilots per annum over the course of the next 5 years and our pilots can look forward to unmatched opportunities flying with the world’s number one international airline. After careful consideration, we have chosen VA Airline Training as our UK based APS MCC pilot training partner due to their continuous high standards in APS MCC training. We are pleased to lend our operational expertise to VA Airline Training especially in the provision of what will be an outstanding Airline Pilot Standard MCC. This combination will be the best possible preparation for an airline career with Ryanair.”

Ryanair’s Operations Development General Manager, John Dooly said:

“Ryanair is delighted to welcome VA Airline Training as our first UK pilot training partner. VA Airline Training is the only training school in the UK where you can do a Ryanair mentored APS MCC. Located close to Ryanair’s largest base Stansted Airport, we expect students from across Europe to avail of Ryanair’s low fares and enrol on VA Airline Training’s Ryanair Mentored APS MCC pilot programme.”.

VA Airline Training’s Executive Partner Anthony Petteford said:

“VA Airline Training is proud to be Ryanair’s first UK training partner with our EASA Airline Pilot Standards MCC (APS MCC) approved programme. VA Airline Training was the first Approved Training Organisation to launch APS MCC in the UK and this exciting new partnership with Ryanair further endorses the value-add attributed by airlines to this training. Both VA and Ryanair have a proud history in aviation and we are excited to be partners in the next chapter in their ongoing success story. This is a unique and outstanding opportunity for our gradautes to become commercial airline pilots for the fastest growing airline in Europe. Ryanair has an industry leading training department with an unrivalled safety record and we are proud to be associated with them. This is a new approach to pilot training and one that we welcome enthusiastically.”