WELLNESS IN EDUCATION: Philippines being developed as Asia’s hub of flying schools

With the number of foreign students increasing every year, the Philippines is being developed as a hub of flying schools in Asia, prompting schools to upgrade and increase investments, sources said. “The Philippines is already playing an important role in the air transport sector in the region because it is becoming a destination of choice for foreign students who are pursuing aviation studies,” said retired Lt Gen William Hotchkiss, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The Philippines has already gained “competitive edge in training of pilots, aviation technicians and skilled (aviation) workers as shown by the records of at least 36 flying schools in the Philippines,” said Hotchkiss. The government should firm up policies to help the country’s aviation education sector, said Hotchkiss, adding that this will strengthen the edge already achieved by the country’s aviation education sector with the coming economic integration of the 10-member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) by end of 2015. Enhancement of the aviation education sector should be included in the government’s programme to integrate the whole air transport sector and ensure that its safety meets international standards, said Hotchkiss. The European Commission lifted its ban of the Philippine Airlines in 2013, and Cebu Pacific in 2014.