Tulabut: Good Things, Good Deeds

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

IT IS just one of the many wonderful things that are coming.

The contract signing between AirAsia Inc. Philippines (AAP) and the SIA Engineering Philippines (SIAEP) for the maintenance of the former’s aircraft by the latter brings to fore once again the many positive developments inside Clark.

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Particularly at the DMIA where airlines -- particularly budget carriers -- have been racing to establish hub operations inside the former US military airbase.

Not that only airlines are setting up shop. There are a hundred and one aviation-related businesses that are being opened up too. Not that they are opening up too, they also pump-prime the economy of Clark and the nation as well.

Take for instance the operations of AAP that will soon launch local and regional flights to and from DMIA. AAP will be creating jobs for flight attendants, ground crew, ticketing agents and other fields of expertise.

No matter how menial or critical those jobs could be, they will still help lessen unemployment problems.

On the other hand, SIAEP will need more aircraft mechanics, technicians, skilled workers (welders, lathe workers, machinists, etc.).

Business endeavors like these also create opportunities for our OFWs to come home and work in the country instead of breaking their backs elsewhere while they are away from their loved ones.

I could only picture the excitement on the faces of Pinoy aircraft mechanics that AAP CEO Maan Hontiveros bumped into while in Penang for some business meetings. Told of the job openings in her company, some of them grabbed the opportunity and are now hired by AAP as in-house mechanics. I am pretty sure that families of these professionals are more than just happy now that they no longer have to leave the country for work.

And it did not stop at hiring mechanics from Peninsular Malaysia. There were also Pinoy pilots based in the Middle East and are coming home to work for AAP.

Stories like that are but common, feel-good happenings in Clark. AAP is but one of the many aviation companies that have opened up. SIAEP, I am pretty sure too, has stories like that given their growing business and clientele inside Clark.

SIAEP will be building and opening two more hangars for their MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) operations. Aside from AAP, this company is contracted by many other airlines for aircraft maintenance. With a long list of clients, many of our OFWs could now come home for aircraft-related repair work.

*****

Miss Maan, beautiful as she always is (I’ve seen her in that 70-80s talk show which I believe was called Miscellaneous), could only be so happy with the support given by Clark officials towards the operation of AAP in Clark.

I could not agree any better with her comments about CIAC top honcho Chichos Luciano, who she said has “continued to champion Clark airport.”
Miss Maan went on to say that Mr. Luciano “has been very supportive from Day One.”

You see, opening up an airline business is not just buying an aircraft, hire crew, sell tickets and mount flights. How people in this industry – particularly in the Philippine setting – wish that it is easy as that. But it is not. It is so complex that probably it is even harder to get Philippine permit to fly a commercial aircraft than it is to buy one from abroad. But I am not writing about the intricacies (read: politics) of permit issuance.

It is but enough to state here that airlines like AAP have a Chichos Luciano for an airport official to deal with. I am saying this not because Mr. Luciano happens to have come from the airline industry but because he won’t stop at nothing but to fulfill everyone’s dream to make Clark the premier Philippine gateway.

I believe that Mr. Luciano has been helping AAP (as he does for other airlines too) to get flying permits and route operations clearance from various government agencies. Thus, Maan’s gratefulness to him.

*****

While there are likely disappointments from executives of other airlines that are now operating in Clark who may face business competitions as new players come around to mount flights, Mr. Luciano just has to brave it all as it is his job to level the playing field in a free enterprise such as airlines operations.

Needles to say, Mr. Luciano is doing his work in bringing in to Clark more airlines and more players. But his job does not end there. He has to make sure that all goes well for these investors whom he invited.

Needless to say too that Mr. Luciano is doing a great balancing act dealing with opposing and competing airline companies and even the giants.

Did he not just sign a contract with Air Philippines Express for their eventual Clark operations even as competitor Cebu Pacific has been doing well at DMIA?

Needless to say again that as far as realizing that dream to make Clark as the main Philippine gateway, Mr. Luciano enjoys the support of major stakeholders from government leaders, business, media and other sectors.

What made me say that? No less than Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas has reaffirmed this direction last week in Senate hearings where DMIA should indeed become the premier airport of the Philippines.