Following the growth of the global economy, the demand for aviation professionals continues to grow in the Asia-Pacific region. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that aviation-related occupations – namely aircraft pilots, navigators, and flight engineers – were the highest paying jobs in 2016 with a P116,714 average monthly wage rate.
It was followed by securities and finance dealers and brokers (P89,831) and civil engineers (P69,957).
The airline industry has prospered over the past decades and the need for aviation experts continues to rise–with 41,000 new aircrafts projected to be built worldwide within the next 20 years.
With the boom of aviation in the Philippines, what can aspiring aviation practitioners expect and how should they prepare?
“One must be really ready when entering the competitive aviation industry,” said Capt. Ramon Guico III, president and chief executive of WCC Aviation Company Inc.
Despite the presence of job opportunities in the aviation industry, Guico said the road to an aviation career is not for the faint-hearted. Those interested to get into the industry should be passionate and fully equipped with optimal skills and experience to gain a competitive edge.
“Though new graduates will find it hard to land an aviation job immediately after graduation, the key is to keep themselves informed about the industry and the specialization they are into. For example, aircraft mechanics should be more open into accepting on-the-job trainings and immersions. This will give them the experience and skills that a large airline company is looking for,” he said.
“This is the same with pilot students. The key is to gain experience. Airlines may not be always hiring new pilots, so the option is to start by becoming flight instructors so they will gain flight experience and at the same time enhance their skills. So when the time comes that an airline will be looking for their new set of flight crew, you will be on the top choice,” Guico said.
Getting a high-paying job isn’t the sole reason to land in the airlines industry. Alongside the life-changing chance to see the world are opportunities for career advancement.
“Aside from the travel, airlines also provide assistance for career advancement. There is an ongoing trend now of aircraft mechanics and cabin crew advancing to become airline pilots,” he said.
Foreseeing the boom in the airlines industry, WCC Aviation is commencing its plans to make quality education more accessible throughout the country by expanding its reach. The company, which is highly regarded not just in the Philippines but also in Asia, aims to soon open a WCC Aviation Branch in Diliman, Quezon City, offering programs such as pilot training and flight attendant course.
This is in addition to WCC Aviation’s constant upgrading of its training programs.
From its modest beginnings in 2005 with only a small school and two students, WCC Aviation has grown to be a university-grade campus that caters to the needs of the airline industry both locally and abroad.
At present, WCC Aviation’s state-of-the-art facilities provides a conducive learning environment.
“We are training students not just to become employees but to be critical thinkers. We want them to be the next generation managers and leaders in the industry. That is why we are highlighting ‘character formation’ in our curriculum. By focusing on developing the character of our students, we help them nurture their skills and become responsible individuals that will later be our contribution towards nation-building,” said Guico.