CREATE AVIATION AUTHORITY TO PREPARE RP
AS ASIA'S FLIGHT-TRAINING CAPITAL - ANGARA

"With the Philippines set to be the next flight-training capital in Asia, the country urgently needs a single, centralized, and autonomous civil aviation authority to deal with matters of civil aviation," urged Senator Edgardo Angara.

The number of foreign flight students is steadily climbing, according to Omni Aviation Corp. president Captain Ben Hur Gomez. For instance, the president of the premier flight school in the Philippines also said that there are about 400 Indian flight students in different flight schools in the country today.

Many more students are coming in from Asia and Europe , but local flight schools are unable to accommodate all of them.

"With the influx of foreign flight students, the country should be prepared to ensure the safety and efficiency of aviation in the country," said Senator Angara.

"Being structurally prepared will further boost our competitive advantage in becoming Asia's flight training capital," Senator Angara said.

According to the Senator, "Countries like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Uganda, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore, the Fiji Islands, Ireland, Romania, Jamaica, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago have all restructured their regulatory policies and framework and created a 'stand-alone civil aviation authority' that had worked to their advantage in promoting their aviation industry thru reduced bureaucracy and inefficiency in meeting ICAO standards and recommended practices."

"Having a similar aviation policy will make the Philippines more attractive as a center of flight schools in the region," said Senator Angara.

According to the International Air Transport Association, the center of aviation industry in the world is shifting towards India and East China . By 2010, intra-Asia Pacific travel will account for 33% of revenue passenger-km. China recruits 1,000 pilots every year and India will need 4,000 in the next five years.

Senator Angara has filed the Civil Aviation Act of 2007 that creates the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which provides safe and efficient management of services relating to aviation access in the Philippines. The regulatory agency is charged of creating and implementing rules that will promote the aviation industry in the country while emphasizing aviation safety at all times.

"Becoming the next flight-training capital in Asia is a golden opportunity for Philippine aviation, but in order to fully harness its possibilities, the country should be aptly-tooled in providing safe and efficient aviation services," said Senator Angara.