$50-M aviation training school to open

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

CLARK FREEPORT -- President Benigno Aquino III led Tuesday other government officials in the groundbreaking ceremony for the US$50-million pilot school and aviation training facility of Cebu Pacific (CEB) and CAE inside the Freeport.

The President is joined by Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, CEB president Lance Gokongwei.

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The joint venture, known as the Philippine Academy for Aviation Training Inc., is expected to start its operations in the third quarter of 2012, and will train over 2,500 pilots and other aviation professionals for CEB and third-party airlines in the region annually.

“We are proud to be part of the establishment of the first CAE aviation training center in the country. We look forward to making the Philippines’ vibrant aviation industry become the hub for highly skilled, highly competent aviation professionals,” said Gokongwei.

“We are delighted to collaborate with CAE to bring a world-class training facility to the region. This training center will be pivotal to meeting the training requirements not only of Cebu Pacific, but also the region’s pilot and flight training requirements in the next ten years or so,” he added.

“CAE is very pleased to partner with CEB to serve their expanding training needs,” said Jeff Roberts, CAE’s Group President of Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services.

“The new training center will be a one-stop training facility for CEB and a hub for training services for other airlines. We are confident the training provided will enhance aviation safety and operational efficiency in the region,” Roberts added.

The facility will initially cater to Airbus A319/320/321 series pilot type-rating training requirements and will provide “wet” instructor-led type-rating training for CEB’s current and newly hired pilots. Initial, recurrent, conversion and jet indoctrination training will also be available to other Airbus operators.

Training is expected to be added for other aviation personnel, such as cabin crew, dispatch, ground handling personnel and cadets.