Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) is sending-off its first batch of
Cadet Pilots to an intensive aviation training program at Flight Training
Adelaide (FTA) in Australia. The batch is composed of 16 Cadet Pilots who were
selected from over 12,500 applicants. The applicants went through screening and
a series of tests, as well as medical and physical examination, with 16
candidates attending an aviation foundation course at the Philippine Academy
for Aviation Training in Clark Field, Pampanga last month.
The final 16 Cadet-Pilots are Dexie Jay Aljas (Banga, South
Cotabato); Janine Alyssa Marie Bautista (Cainta, Rizal); Aaron Jhun
Bernabe (Santiago City, Isabela); James Kevin Chua (Sta Cruz, Manila); Paulo
Martin Concepcion (Sta Rosa, Laguna); Martha May De Leon (Sta Rosa, Laguna);
Darryl Dave Ditucalan (Iligan City); Geronimo Miguel Mantes (Fairview, Quezon
City); Lorenzo Miguel Montinola (Malate, Manila); Rydale Pintor (Cebu City);
Ardeen Bernabe Reguyal (San Jose, Occidental Mindoro); Kayrwin Kirch
Remolona (Mabalacat, Pampanga); Jose Angelo Santos (Cainta, Rizal); twin
brothers Ian John and Ivan Kevin Satentes (Noveleta, Cavite); and Juan Carlo
Wage (Bamban, Tarlac).
“Ever since I was a child it has always been my lifelong dream
to become an airline pilot but my family is not financially capable of
supporting my dreams,” shares Ian John Satentes.
“My twin brother and I have the same dream of becoming
pilots since we were kids. The reason for this is all the airplanes we saw up-close
whenever we accompany or fetch dad at the airport. While waiting for dad and
looking at those big planes, our mom would always tell us that someday we will
be inside the cockpit of whichever airplane she’s pointing at,” enthused Ivan
Kevin.
For Juan Carlo Wage, joining the program meant having the
chance to improve the lives of his loved ones, especially his parents who both
worked as caretakers and housecleaners in Pampanga. “I joined the program
because I knew that it would change my life. Aside from being able to travel,
and learn and experience new things, I want to pay my mom and dad back for
their hard work, and give them a good life as well.”
The aspirants thank Cebu Pacific for opening a program that
would enable financially-challenged Filipinos to reach their dreams of becoming
pilots. “I joined the program because I wanted to be a Pilot since I was in
grade school. After graduating college and getting my first job, I did not
think that I would be able to pursue my dream immediately because my salary was
not enough to put me to flying school. Luckily, Cebu Pacific created a program
for aspiring Pilots,” said Martha May De Leon.
The cadet pilots will be spending a total of 52 weeks at the
FTA campus in Adelaide. After successfully completing their training
there, the Cadet Pilots will return to the Philippines to complete type-rating
and licensing requirements to become commercial pilots. After completion
of the program, the cadet-pilots become First Officers at CEB, and join
the corps of aviators at Cebu Pacific, flying domestic and international
routes.
Cebu Pacific will shoulder the cost of the training,
type-rating and licensing, with successful cadet-pilots guaranteed
employment with CEB. They will then reimburse the cost of the program through
salary deduction over a maximum of ten years at zero-interest.
Cebu Pacific will be investing US$25 million for its Cadet
Pilot Program. In partnership with FTA, the program selects a total of 240
candidates over a five-year period, or 48 candidates per year divided into
three batches, with each batch composed of 16 Cadet-Pilots.
The program is open only to Filipino citizens who are
college graduates, proficient in English and hold passports valid for at least
two years prior to the start of the program. The screening process for
applicants begins with an online screening, followed by an on-site screening
for core skills and pilot aptitude tests, among other examinations where a fee
of AU$425.00 (PHP17,000.00) will be charged. CEB and FTA will jointly select
the final list of candidates.
Candidates for the second batch of CEB Cadet Pilots are
currently being screened. Application for the third batch is set to open by
mid-May 2018.
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