Philippines a role model in Asia Pacific aviation region?

As the aviation sector continues to grow, the predictions of Asia Pacific region leap becomes a reality. According to the Boeing Outlook 2013-2032 the Asia Pacific region will be a leading region in both the development of the fleet (up to 12,800 new aircraft to be delivered), and as a result of that, – the aviation personnel demand (up to the 185,000 news pilots in the region).

Based on the ICOA safety report of few last years, the total accident number is getting a bit lower every year, however Asia (which includes Asia Pacific region too is in the second place by the number fatal accidents (right after Africa) for many years now. The recent accident of Asiana Airline in San Francisco, where two passengers had been killed and more than hundred were injured, took all the focus to the flight training improvements in the Asian region.

Philippines – the outlook of the region

The Philippines is an archipelago comprised of 7,107 islands. Being in the Southeast puts the islands in the middle of the main trade flows. Because of the growing population and the exclusive location the air travel became the main transportation way in the Philippines. According to the CAPA centre for aviation, the Philippine’s aviation fleet is going to face a significant expansion by adding up to 150 new aircraft by the end of the year 2022. Orders placed by the airlines show that the pilots who are in biggest demand are and continue to be the ones with the type rating for Airbus A320 and Airbus A330/340.

Positive changes in Philippine aviation sector

The past year in the Philippines aviation sector brought positives changes. In July of 2013 the European Union has lifted a ban on Philippine Airlines (PAL) flying into its airspace after the national carrier resolved aviation safety concerns. Although the ban is lifted only for Philippine Airlines (PAL), because of the general aviation safety standards improvement in country and positive work by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the ban may be lifted and for other carriers. After the successful European ban lift, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is focused to convince the FAA (Federal Aviation Association to lift the ban on Philippine carriers for flights to the United States. According to the www.phillipinesflightnetwork.com the aviation regulator is closely monitoring violations committed by both foreign and domestic airlines as it increases its efforts to ensure that the FAA ban is lifted.

Recently the aviation training centre Baltic Aviation Academy has been approved by the CAAP. According to the certificate, Baltic Aviation Academy complies with the requirements of the Philippine Civil Aviation Regulations and Implementing Standards Part 3 to provide the following type rating training courses: Airbus A319/A320/321, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, ATR 42/72/432-320/72-500, Boeing B 737-300-900W, Boeing B 747-400, Boeing B 777-200ER, DHC8 – 400.