Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) has been shortlisted for the Sustainable Initiative Award at the Pilot Careers Live Awards 2025, in association with Flyer. This recognition comes at a pivotal time, as AFTA recently welcomed back EI-GKN, its third Cessna aircraft retrofitted for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
AFTA, which trains commercial pilots in partnership with Munster Technological University (MTU) for the global airline industry, is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and integrating sustainability into pilot training. The academy has set an ambitious goal of converting its entire fleet to SAF-compatible power plants in the coming years and is actively exploring all measures to accelerate this transition.
AFTA is already recognised as a leader in sustainable aviation training. It was the first EASA-approved flight training academy in Europe to embed Sustainability and Environmental Awareness into every stage of pilot education. Strengthening its commitment, AFTA has replaced older, high-emission aircraft with next-generation Diamond DA42 NG aircraft, manufactured in Austria. These aircraft not only offer enhanced efficiency and quieter operation but also run on SAF, which—when combined with their advanced power plants—reduces emissions by over 90%.
With three Cessna 172 and five DA42 aircraft now SAF-compatible, over one-third of AFTA’s fleet is already operating with reduced carbon emissions.
Mark Casey, AFTA CEO and Head of Training said: “We are committed to significantly reducing our carbon footprint in line with government policy by 2030. The introduction of the Diamond DA42 NG has been a game-changer for our business—these state-of-the-art aircraft are quieter, more fuel-efficient, and can run on SAF, cutting our fleet’s carbon emissions by 90%. We are determined to complete a full fleet conversion to SAF ahead of schedule and are in active discussions with manufacturers and retrofit specialists to establish a clear timeline for achieving this goal.”
AFTA’s continued investment in sustainable aviation reaffirms its position as a leading force in environmentally responsible pilot training in Europe.
