ZAMBOANGA CITY—A local aviation school here is embarking on the importation of aircraft and aviation equipment to help boost the provision of flying services in the western Mindanao region.
According to Raul Regondola, chair of the Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, the venture is being established by the school of aviation of the Southern City Colleges (SCC), one of the oldest schools in the city.
SCC has organized the SCC Aeronautics and Holdings, Inc. to undertake the venture which it locates within the ecozone. Its flying school was opened in June 2019.
Regondola said the SCC venture has just been granted a 25-year lease inside the ecozone.
Edwin Caliolio, president of the SCC School of Aviation, said the lease agreement covers the lot to serve as its hub for the importation of aircraft, aviation equipment, spare parts and other aircraft accessories.
“This is the first time we have this venture outside Luzon, particularly Clark. This is unprecedented and a milestone for us as we celebrate the (school’s) 75th anniversary this December,” Caliolio told the INQUIRER.
The SCC aviation school is the only flying school operating in the western Mindanao region.
At present, the school’s nine student pilots have already completed the ground training, now awaiting pilot permits for their actual flight exercises.
Captain Dhananjeyan Senniappan, an Indian pilot who is the school’s training head, said having an importation hub will help cut the cost of securing and maintaining the aircrafts they used for ground and actual flight training.
Senniappan said apart from their own flying school, the hub can also fill the gap in providing parts and services to private aircraft operators.
According to Caliolio, SCC’s current fleet includes three Cessna 172s (4-seaters), one Beechcraft Baron (6-seater) and one Cessna Citation (9-seater).
“As we reach 75 years in the academic field, we look forward to being able to provide opportunities for the locals to have safer, faster and easier transportation. We can offer charter services to any companies, for air ambulance, and aerial tours for tourism,” Caliolio said.