SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Two leaders in transportation logistics and services have banded together to put up in this free port the next-generation flying school that would produce “airline-ready aviation professionals primed for flight operations.”
Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp., a leader in aviation support services, partnered with diversified maritime services operator PTC Group to launch the First Aviation Academy (FAA) at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) complex.
Company officials said the FAA will take the lead in developing world-class Filipino aviation professionals with its comprehensive curriculum, experienced instructors and state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
The school, built alongside a hangar, was formally inaugurated here on Thursday by US Ambassador Sung Yong Kim, Philippine Airlines President Jaime Bautista, PTC Chairman Emeritus Carlos Salinas, MacroAsia Chairman Joseph Chua, Transportation Assistant Secretary Juvy Manwong, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma.
According to FAA General Manager Raoul Perez, the FAA seeks to be at the forefront of professional development for the airline industry with the introduction of the Redbird MCX and TD2 G-1000 simulators, which are two of the most modern full-motion flight simulation systems in use today.
Aside from this, the school will field a fleet of brand-new Tecnam P2010 planes with Garmin G-1000 full-glass cockpit electronic instrumentation for actual flight training.
The four-seat, high-wing, single-engine light aircraft are designed and built in Italy and have a top speed of 259 kilometers per hour (kph) and a range of 1,222 kilometers.
FAA officials on Thursday unveiled two units of the Tecnam P2010 at the academy’s hangar, and let VIP guests like Ambassador Kim try out the flight simulators after the blessing of offices and classrooms.
FAA Sales Manager Butch Reyes said that with the combination of advanced equipment and experienced staff, FAA’s modern training platform “will enable students to develop the skills set necessary to excel in international aviation.”
He said the academy’s intensive 12-month training program will integrate academic requirements for private pilot license, instrument rating, multi-engine rating, commercial pilot license and airline transport pilot license.
Meanwhile, top graduates of the flying school will also have the chance to become flight instructors, thus gaining flying hours while honing instructor skills, Reyes said.
School officials also said that over the course of their training at FAA, students will be provided with accommodations and meals, which are included in the tuitions fees.
The academy will also offer “easy financing options” for enrollees, they added.
Image credits: Henry Empeño