CEBU PACIFIC is investing $25 million to train 240 cadet pilots in five years.
The local carrier is partnering with Australian aviation training provider Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) to train cadet pilots in a 56-week intensive flying training and theory course to become licensed commercial pilots.
Cebu Pacific and FTA will send three batches of 16 cadet-pilots per year. They will be selecting from Filipino applicants who are college graduates, proficient in English, and passport holders for at least two years prior to the start of the program.
Cadet pilots will study and train at the flight school and can amortize the payment for the course while employed. Cebu Pacific will finance the entire program, and the pilots would then be employed by the airline and would pay the cost of the program through a salary deduction over a maximum of ten years.
“The program will allow us to train homegrown talent with international standards,” President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei said in his speech during the launch of the program yesterday.
Mr. Gokongwei added this program will help sustain the expansion of Cebu Pacific, as it will provide pilots for its new planes.
The airline has a current fleet of 59 aircraft, and is expecting the delivery of seven Airbus A321ceo, 32 Airbus A321neo, and nine ATR 72-600 aircraft between this year and 2022.
“We are proud to support the expansion of Cebu Pacific, and be part of its thrust to connect more of the Philippine islands and economic development,” Johan Pienaar, FTA chief executive officer, said in a statement.
FTA was founded in 1982 and is a provider of customized aviation training solutions for the fixed wing and rotary wing industry. It is focused on producing future airline and helicopter captains. – Patrizia Paola C. Marcelo
