Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship Training - EASA Category B

SOLAS is seeking to award a contract for the provision of Aircraft Mechanics apprenticeship training aligned to EASA Categories B1 and B2 standards. This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for a direct award to Atlantic Aviation Group to address increased apprenticeship training demand in 2025. The training must meet strict European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) regulatory requirements and be delivered by providers approved by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). The contract will provide supplemental training capacity from May 2027 for three years to support the growing number of apprentices in the aircraft maintenance field. This direct award is being pursued because Atlantic Aviation Group is currently the only qualified economic operator capable of delivering the required additional training capacity within the necessary timeframe while meeting all regulatory compliance requirements. The proposed contract is an interim measure designed to address a defined capacity gap in Ireland's national apprenticeship system, with the possibility of conducting a competition at a later date if legal circumstances change.