The European Pilot Academy has recently appointed Capt. Nigel J. Dunkerley as Head of Training for the Air Transport Pilot Licence Theoretical Course. This is the highest position in the theoretical department.

Capt. Ray Zarb, who is the European Pilot Academy’s director and also Chief Ground Instructor, said: “Capt. Dunkerley has been with the academy since its early days and has steadily gained experience and knowledge over the years, both locally and abroad, achieving firsts not only in his aviation career as a flight instructor in Malta but also in the general aviation scene. In the last nine years, Capt. Dunkerley has been instrumental in reaching the academy’s goal of becoming Malta’s first flight school to offer ‘0’ to Airline Transport Pilots Licence in Malta, removing the need for local students to have to go abroad for such a course.”

He added: “Capt. Dunkerley’s experience is clearly unparalleled in this field and there was no easier choice when it came to offering him this position.”

Capt. Dunkerley will now be directly responsible for the European Pilot Academy’s team of ground instructors, ensuring that the standards and quality of this course are maintained at the highest level, with up-to-date teaching practices. He will also be directly responsible for liaison between the academy and the Department of Civil Aviation for the ATPL course.

“I am honoured to have been given a position in Malta that very few flight schools in the Mediterranean region have ever had,” said Capt. Dunkerley. “I am also looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead, especially in maintaining European Pilot Academy’s excellent record both locally and overseas. Although EPA has enjoyed a dominant position in the local market, its next endeavour is to target the overseas market, due to its competitive advantage of offering a full package with state-of-the-art premises, various aviation facilities and a team of knowledgeable people, comprised of airline pilots, air traffic controllers and specialists in the various fields of topics taught. It is important to emphasise that we do not solely teach theory to students to become pilots for recreational purposes but we prepare and teach them to apply their knowledge within the airline industry”.

The European Pilot Academy – based at Malta International Airport (next to Lufthansa Technik) – has also been approved as Malta’s first Flight Training Organisation and has been authorised to run formal training courses for students up to Airline Transport Pilot Licence level.

Details about the courses available can be found at www.falconalliance.com/epa