“THE FUTURE of aviation is in Asia. We expect a 35-percent future growth in Asia so there will be a great demand for pilots.”

Thus said Cebu Air Inc. President-CEO Lance Gokongwei, after signing with the Clark Development Corp. President-CEO Felipe Antonio Remollo a lease agreement for the establishment of a world-class $50-million pilot training academy.

Gokongwei  cited estimates that the volume of aircraft in Asia would increase to 6,000 in the next 20 years, thus:

“With each aircraft needing six pilots and another six co-pilots, that would translate to about 72,000 that need to be trained.” Gokongwei said, .

The aviation academy is a partnership of Cebu Air and the Canada-based CAE Inc., a leading provider of simulation technologies, modelling technologies and integrated training services to airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and defense customers worldwide, Cebu Air Inc.

“It will be a full aviation academy,” Gokongwei said, initially with two simulators, to be subsequently increased to four. Simulators are replicas of fully equipped cockpits of aircraft that imitate – simulate, hence their names – real aircraft operations, from take-off to landing.

“We will break ground immediately so that we can start construction by August and be operational by September,” Gokongwei replied when asked when the project would start.

And why Clark as the chosen site?

“Because we expect Clark to eventually be the country’s main international gateway. It will be a major hub for all aviation related industries.” So was Gokongwei’s succinct reply.

This, even as he reminded everyone that the academy is the second investment Cebu Air Inc. at Clark, after an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhauling facility venture it established with Singapore International Airlines Engineering Phil.

Not to mention there Cebu Pacific making the Clark International Airport its major hub, after Manila, Cebu and Davao

A second reason for basing in Clark, Gokongwei cited, is the “excellence and transparency” of the CDC leadership.

Faith in Clark. Confidence in its leaders. Twin factors that bring in more investments to the free zone.

Take a bow, Atty. Remollo.