Setting the course for next gen of pilots
For many Gen Z students mapping out careers beyond traditional office paths, aviation is fast becoming an option that promises mobility, global exposure and hands-on work.
With that in mind, Topflite Academy and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) team up for a partnership aiming to make that path more accessible and more practical for future aviation students.
The two institutions recently signed a memorandum of understanding at Subic Bay International Airport, launching programs that link what students learn in school with actual industry training. The partnership, backed by the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), will provide students with mentorship opportunities, internships, exposure trips and micro-credentials.
For a generation that values experience as much as credentials, the promise of real-world immersion is central to the initiative. Beyond lectures, students are expected to take part in joint projects, collaborative research, and data analytics workshops tied directly to aviation operations.
Topflite Accountable Manager Capt. Sahl Andrew Onglatco framed the partnership as a meeting point between theory and practice.
“Benilde stands for excellence in education, formation, and values. Topflite stands for discipline, safety, and real-world aviation experience. Together, we bridge the classroom and the cockpit, theory and application, education and industry,” Onglatco said, adding that the signing represents “vision, courage, and responsibilities.”
For Benilde students, the integration of aviation-related training into the Tourism Management Program signals broader career possibilities within travel and transport—sectors that many young Filipinos see as dynamic and globally connected.
“We are especially encouraged by the integration of aviation-related training into our Tourism Management Program and the shared vision to develop more deeply aligned academic and professional pathways in the years ahead,” said Benilde Chancellor Benhur Ong.
He also noted that CAAP’s approval of Benilde as a satellite ground school facility affirms the institution’s capability to deliver aviation training.
The setting of the ceremony reinforced the message that aviation is no longer an abstract ambition but a visible, tangible field. Speaking for SBMA Chairman Engr. Eduardo Jose Aliño, Chief of Staff Atty. Von Rodriguez described Subic Airport as more than a travel hub.
“The Subic Airport is not only a gateway for travelers, it is a platform for innovation, training, and economic growth. Partnerships like this ensure that our workforce is future-ready and globally competitive,” Rodriguez shared.
Hosting the event was actor-director Xian Lim, himself a licensed private and commercial pilot who studied at Topflite and is now completing a degree at Benilde through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program.
