A prestigious helicopter flying school will open at Ireland West Airport, Knock in the coming weeks. Ireland West Aviation is to be the platform from which a range of aviation services are to be offered, starting with a helicopter flying school to Private Pilot Licence standard.
Chief Flying Instructor Capt Joe Lally will launch this venture this week and will look to raise spirits with an exhilarating trial lesson which will last in one’s memory. All lessons start with a pre-flight brief and finish with a post-flight debrief and can be purchased in voucher format from €199.
Local businessman Pat Staunton from Castlebar, a commercial helicopter pilot in his own right, will support Joe with this fledgeling venture. He sees an opportunity to offer people one of the experiences of a lifetime at Mayo’s own regional airport and while only a small percentage of those trial lessons will materialise into Private Pilot Licence courses, he feels the sensation of uninhibited flight is an experience not to be missed.
Helicopter flying has always been extremely popular in Ireland, particularly in recent years. Helicopter flight training with Ireland West Aviation gives you the opportunity to fly helicopters as a unique pastime or as a stepping stone to a vocational career in the helicopter industry.
Capt Joe Lally recalls his own training days and how some students funded their PPL licences by part-time work at weekends over a number of years while others were able to afford to devote time intensively to achieve their licence in as little as six months.
This comes just in time for Christmas so interested persons can choose to give this most memorable of gifts. Vouchers are being sold at present from €199 for 20 minutes’ flight time in which the student will operate the controls of an R22 or R44 helicopter under the constant supervision of CFI Capt Lally.
Mr Enda Candon, Director of Business Partnerships at Ireland West Airport Knock, fully supports this venture and said: “All of us here at the airport are very excited to welcome Ireland West Aviation helicopter flight training school and with its launch we see a further expansion of the range of aviation services we can offer to the region.”
Since the airport was opened through the vision of the late Monsignor James Horan, there has been a tradition of quality flight training in Ireland West Airport Knock. An aeroplane flying club, Connaught Aero Club, has provided expert training at their club facility. The expansion of services at the airport to include helicopter flight training completes the aviation training package.
Ireland West Aviation will provide a helicopter flying school to the highest standards with full approvals and a sound financial base. As such all vouchers will be backed by the parent company and will be valid for 18 months from the date of purchase. They can be purchased for trial flights in an R22 two-seater or R44 four-seater helicopter and are available from €199. Further lessons can then be purchased with discounts for prepaid lesson packages. Ireland West Aviation is an Irish Aviation Authority-registered training facility. Further details are available from www.irelandwestaviation.com or phone Joe at 094 936 7716 or 086 364 6155.
Why not give a gift of a truly memorable experience this Christmas?
