TAKING CHARGE: Former student Teo Yuan Zhen testing the flight simulator.
IN today’s fast paced world, the aviation industry has progressively grown over the years, emerging as one of the fastest thriving industries around the world.
This rising trend has resulted in constant demands for pilots, aircraft engineers and cabin crews.
For more than two decades, the International Aviation Centre (IAC) has been guiding students looking to embark on a career in the aviation industry through its affiliation with reputed aviation centres worldwide, delivering high quality training courses, internationally approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the respective aviation authorities.
“Through our affiliated aviation centres, students can choose from two courses – airline pilot training and aircraft engineering,” said Anna Cher, IAC student counsellor for East Malaysia.
Cher, the authorised IAC representative in Sarawak for the past three years, told thesundaypost students were assured of top quality aviation training, approved by its affiliated centres and conducted in accordance with its country’s aviation authority requirements syllabus which meets ICAO standards.
“For instance, aspiring pilot students can opt to choose from three aviation institutions – the Asian Institute of Aviation (AIA) in Subic, Philippines, Basair Aviation College in Sydney, Australia and HM Aerospace in Langkawi – to earn their commercial pilot licence (CPL) with multi-engine command instrument rating (MECIR) and airline transport pilot licence (ATPL),” she explained.
Cher recommends that students enrol with AIA if they are looking for an affordable training course.
“The institute is now the most affordable option, costing only US$39,800, inclusive of food and accommodation for a nine-to-12-month CPL course,” she said.
On top of affordability, the new campus in Subic is well-equipped with facilities, including a first class radio control tower for training pilots and the latest flight simulators. At the same time, students can fly one of the training aircrafts from the campus’ 21-strong fleet, well maintained by licensed and expert mechanics.
According to Cher, the first batch of AIA students from Sarawak have since graduated and are pursuing their careers with commercial and chartered flights as well as working as flight instructors.
“When the students complete their AIA courses, IAC will help them secure jobs in the aviation industry.”
LEARNING THE ROPES: Former student Christopher Tay at the AIA radio control tower. He was recruited by IAC Kuching.
Apart from airline pilot training courses, IAC also offers aircraft engineering programmes from TAECO Training Centre in Xiamen, China, Aviation Australia in Queensland and City of Bristol College in the United Kingdom.
“At TAECO, it’s a two-year course to obtain a professional licence in either mechanics or electronics,” Cher said, adding that TAECO also provided the most affordable courses, starting from only RMB130,000 for an 18-month course.
She pointed out that upon completion of their course, the students would get job placements for another two years.
“Once they have fulfilled the checklist, the students will receive the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) licence and qualify as professional aircraft engineers.”
IAC will launch its cabin crew training programme on March 19. Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah is expected to officiate at the event.
Course in Kuching
According to Cher, the flight attendant preparatory course will be conducted at IAC in Kuching where the students will learn the basic cabin crew principles such as character-building, in-flight responsibilities, professional grooming and communication skills, among others.
She said students no longer had to fly to Kuala Lumpur for the six-month course as they would be taught here by lecturers from Kuala Lumpur.
SLEEK: The Cessna 152 single engine aircraft.
To meet the airline’s criteria, the students will be taught to create a professional resume and CV cover letter – in addition to interview techniques at a mock interview session.
“There are actually three interviews. In the first, the students will be required to tell the interviewers about themselves. The second is where the interviewers will observe how active and articulate the students are in a group discussion.
“The most difficult will be the final round. Interviewers from different airlines will be asking the students about their airlines and conducting tests to see if the students fit the criteria to represent their companies as flight attendants,” Cher said.
In all the training programmes, she added, IAC would be collaborating with Inter-Excel Advisory Sdn Bhd which has a proven track record for training would-be flight attendants since 1996 and is the pioneer airline training and placement centre in Asia.
“This means students who have completed their training will have the opportunity to attend interviews with more than 10 airline companies such as Malaysia Airlines, FireFly, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qatar Airways and so on.”
Cher said once the students passed the interviews, they would be able to work as full-fledged flight attendants immediately.
Unlike in Kuala Lumpur, the flight attendant preparatory course here will be conducted over only one and a half months.
“This is because in Kuala Lumpur, the students are required to work by Inter-Excel Advisory. So they are placed either at cafes or other public service-related jobs for three to four hours a day while attending lectures for about two to three hours a day to build their character,” she explained.
“In Kuching, the course, which costs only RM4,000, has been scheduled from Monday to Saturday, so we can finish the programme within 45 days,” Cher said.
For further enquiries, call 082-574686 or 016-8903349.