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Pilot Training College (PTC) has selected Cambridge Airport as the location for its new professional flight training academy called Pilot Training College (Cambridge), pending CAA approval, which is expected by Autumn this year.

"We are pleased to welcome a professional flight training provider of PTC's calibre who can benefit from our academic brand and superb facilities.  This also fulfils part of our commercial strategy to attract a professional flight training organisation to Cambridge", said Archie Garden, Airport Director.

PTC trains up to 300 pilots per year at its bases in Waterford, Dublin and Florida and has contracts with leading airlines from around the world such as Flybe, Nasair, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Air Astana.  Initially PTC will be basing a new Boeing 737 simulator, an FNPTII procedures trainer and a fleet of Piper Seminole aircraft at Cambridge Airport.

"We are delighted to announce that we are entering a partnership with Cambridge Airport to establish a Flight Training Centre in the United Kingdom providing high quality ab-initio training to (F)ATPL level. This is an important step in establishing a firm foothold and presence in our largest market in Europe. In the course of our negotiations we have established a very positive and synergistic working relationship with the personnel at Marshalls in Cambridge which I am confident will lead to significant growth and development of our joint objectives at the airport. I look forward with enthusiasm to further developing our operations in tandem with Cambridge", said Capt. Mike Edgeworth, Executive Chairman and CEO, Pilot Training College.   

Today Cambridge is a fully fledged commercial airport with a 24/7 capability, holding a Public Use Licence and maintaining CAA Category 7 Fire & Air Traffic Control status.  It has full navigational aids, communications and radar approach coverage of 30 nm.  It has invested in a new GPS approach to complement the existing ILS system.  With a 1965m/6447ft runway it accepts intercontinental business jets and aircraft up to Boeing 757 or Airbus 320 size.