CLARK FREEPORT — Officials welcomed the third major investment of the Cebu Pacific Air (CPA) here amounting to $50 million and expected to train over 2,500 pilots annually.

Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President-CEO Felipe Antonio Remollo and local officials led by Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda joined President Aquino in the ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday for the Philippine Academy for Aviation Training, Inc. (PAAT) owned by CPA and its Canadian-based partner, CAE.    

“Projects like this from a reputable and well-known firm will not just benefit Clark but the entire Pampanga as well. It will generate jobs and will help propel the local economy,” said Pineda in the dialect.

Her “Pampanga Market, Market” food outlet at Clark showcasing local products is set to begin operations in a few weeks.

For his part, Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales said “the Gokongweis draw not just attention but more investors when they invest in an area.” He added that “jobs provided by new Clark investments are most welcome.”

The PAAT will train pilots of the CPA and third-party airlines in the Asia Pacific Region. It is expected to start operations in the third quarter of 2012.

The CPA is the first major commercial to establish its hub at Clark, significantly contributing to the 700,000 passengers generated by the Clark International Airport (CIA) in 2011.

The Gokongwei-owned company has also partnered with the SIA Engineering Philippines to establish the aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility.         

The SIA and CPA established a first hangar amounting to P500 million, while a second one in the works will reportedly cost almost P1 billion. The CPA owns 35 percent of the first and still the only major MRO facility at Clark. 

Remollo, also acting board chairman of the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), said the “Taipans are here.”

He stressed that Clark and nearby communities will benefit from the entry of CPA and other major business firms at Clark.

For his part, Lance Gokongwei said “we are proud to be part of the establishment of the first CAE aviation training center in the country.” He added that “we look forward to making the Philippines’ vibrant aviation industry become the hub for high-skilled, high competent aviation professionals.”

There are about 62,000 workers at Clark. The CPA’s aviation training center will employ at least 100 workers.

The CAE is the world leader in providing simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defense forces around the globe, said a fact sheet given to journalists.

With annual revenues exceeding $1.6 billion, CAE employs more than 7,500 people at more than 100 sites and training locations in more than 20 countries, it added.          

CPA has at least 500 pilots and will need 300 and 400 pilots in the next five years, according to Gokongwei.

He added that the Asia Pacific Region will need about 70,000 pilots” in the same period.    

Gokongwei disclosed that their pilots are required to train after six months of flying. 

“I am now fixing my vacant room and restoring its air-conditioned unit. Some pilots may want to rent it out,” said Alma Santos of Barangay San Joaquin, Mabalacat, when she had heard about the new pilot training center.

Her house is about 2 kilometers away from Clark’s Mabalacat gate.

“My house is near Clark and I can rent it out for P5,000  monthly, including the use of electricity,” she added.

Also in attendance at the ground-breaking were Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano, JG Summit Chairman Emeritus John Gokongwei  Jr., CAE’s Kevin Speed and TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva. –Joey Pavia