North European Institute of Aviation

North European Institute of Aviation
Type Private
Established January 2, 2007
Accountable Manager Svein-Jonny Tømmervåg
Location Ålesund, Norway
Campus Airport, affiliated building outside perimeter fence leased from Lufttransport
Website www.neia.no

North European Institute of Aviation AS (NEIA) was a Norwegian registered company[1] and a private JAR-FCL authorized Flight Training Organization (FTO) located at Ålesund Airport, Vigra, in Norway. It provided JAA and FAA training to European students. This was initially done through its ab-initio ATP(A) Integrated Course, and later the Structured ATPL Professional Pilot Education - a modular program in cooperation with Pelican Flight Training Center (PFTC). The programs were a continuation of that put in place by its predecessor, North European Aviation Resources, which was a derivative of a Scandinavian Airlines training program.

Background

NEIA was established as a holding company in 2007 under the name Training Aircraft Operation AS.[2] It was owned and operated by the board of directors of North European Aviation Resources (NEAR). NEARs majority owner, Benjamin J. Creel was also the proprietor of its training partner North American Institute of Aviation (NAIA), which he acquired in 2000. NAIA discontinued training operations in 2008, which prompted a move of business activities due to threat of closure. All NEAR students were subsequently transferred to the new organization, and the FTO approval of the former company was re-issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. This included the privilege to conduct the ATP(A) Integrated Course, following the CAAs temporary approval of the Pelican Flight Training Center aircraft and facilities.

Education

As well as offering a wide range of modular courses through its training partners, NEIAs flagship program was the ab-initio professional pilot education. The program was designed for candidates with no aviation experience, but it also accepted advanced students who had already obtained a Private Pilot License.

ATP(A) Integrated Course

A number of students started the re-introduced ATP(A) Integrated Course after the move to PFTC. Some students who initiated the integrated course at NAIA completed their remaining JAR-FCL approved hours through this course. However, due to the school's bankruptcy before European training was completed, all were dismissed as integrated by the Norwegian CAA upon return to Europe. All who started the integrated course at PFTC were transferred to the modular course once the integrated privilege was lost.

The course was based on a FAA approved FAR Part 141 Professional Pilot Program supplemented by EASA/JAA approved flying hours, using approved aircraft and procedures. The FAA program accumulated in a flight instructor certificate, that allowed candidates to build experience by working as instructors in the US.

Structured ATPL Professional Pilot Education

Upon introduction of a modular program, the EASA/JAA approved flying hours were dropped, and the hours gained during the Part 141 course formed part of a crediting process upon return to Europe. The program was marketed at one point to include a FAA Boeing 737 type rating, although this did not materialize.

Completion after bankruptcy

When the Norwegian CAA revoked the NEIA FTO certificate, students were left to fend for themselves. Many continued their education, flight instructor work and crediting processes at the same schools which had previously contracted with NEIA. However, vast amounts of tuition money was lost and several students ended up effectively paying twice for their education.

Demise

North European Institute of Aviation lost its privilege to conduct the ATP(A) Integrated Course as of 1. May 2009 following the failure to rectify issues remarked upon during the initial approval process of their U.S. training partner. As a consequence of failing to meet the CAAs demand for a report confirming sufficient liquidity for continued operation, their FTO approval was revoked 19. January 2010. 112 students were affected, 60 of them while still training in the United States.[3]

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Brønnøysundsregistrene - Nøkkelopplysninger fra Enhetsregisteret". Brønnøysundsregistrene. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
  2. ↑ Brønnøysundsregistrene - Opplysningsavdelingen (brreg.no), Email reply from the Norwegian Brønnøysund Register Centre. Dated 9. June 2011.
  3. ↑ "Norsk flyskole får ikke utdanne flygere". Dagens Næringsliv (dn.no). Retrieved 2011-06-09.
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