Member Article

Alpha Aviation Group reports post-pandemic surge in pilot training

Pilot training provider Alpha Aviation Group (AAG) has taken on its biggest group of cadets since the Covid 19 pandemic amid a strengthening recovery in the airline industry. A joint graduation ceremony was held in March 2023 to formally recognize 21 cadet pilots from five different groups who successfully completed the Airline Pilot Program (APP), following in the footsteps of 22 cadets who graduated in February. More than 60 cadets have been inducted to the APP since April 2022, signalling a big increase in pilot training since the pandemic. AAG’ has a 32-strong fleet, allowing it to meet a surge in demand, with the capability to take on 150 cadets annually. Founded in 2006, AAG provides training solutions to the commercial aviation sector and is part of C & C Alpha Group, an international private equity firm with its headquarters in London. AAG operates from Clark in the Philippines. First Officer Andrea Zion Mandocdoc, who graduated with distinction from APP Batch 49 in March, spoke of her pride at making her mark in the male-dominated aviation industry. She said: “The aviation industry is slowly opening up, and when opportunities open, we should be ready”. In March, 11 cadet pilots who have joined the APP were inducted to the A320 type rating phase, a comprehensive program that enables cadets to transition from light aircraft to modern commercial jets within three months. Around 100 aspiring cadets and parents recently attended AAG’s first Airline Pilot Career Orientation (APCO) at the Novotel Manila Araneta City where aspiring commercial airline pilots were given information and advice to help them build their career plans. Alongside its flagship pilot training programs, AAG is now also offering industry-leading maintenance training and it recently won a tender to deliver a program for more than 300 students graduating from Holy Angel University. Nine trainees who successfully finished the Aviation Maintenance Internship Program (AMIP) were last month formally sent off by the AAG International Center for Aviation Training (AICAT) Maintenance Training Center (MTC) . They were the fourth group of trainees to graduate since the program was started. The AICAT-MTC AMIP is designed to provide a comprehensive, hands-on training experience for students with an interest in aviation maintenance. During the program, students undergo rigorous training in areas such as aircraft maintenance, avionics, and aircraft systems. The program also exposes students to the latest technology and equipment used in the aviation industry. Maria Rufina Santos, AAG Head of Student Affairs and Client Relations, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming more cadets to our training centre than at any time since the pandemic. We know that there is an increased demand for pilots as the airline industry continues to recover and come back stronger and we are seeing a pent-up demand for pilot training. We have recently extended our offering to maintenance training, where there is also considerable demand, and our ambition is to be the premier aviation training solutions provider in the region”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucie Hayes .