MANILA -- "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It is a question we have all been asked when we were kids.
A doctor to heal the sick, a policeman to put criminals in jail, a teacher like your first mentor, could be among the answers. One wonders how many have answered, "A pilot to see the skies and travel the world"?
While this job might look easy and fantastic, it is definitely not.
Passion, hard work, discipline -- these are just among the basic traits one should have if he or she wants to be a pilot, Cebu Pacific (CEB) vice president for Flight Operations Samuel Avila told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.
"Discipline is very important. Follow the rules, respect the aircraft and its limitations," he says, adding that one does not need to be a math genius or a rocket scientist to be pilot. He or she just needs to have a fair amount of common sense.
Grit and situational awareness are the other key attributes one must have to be a pilot, he said..
"If discipline is not in your foundation, you will not be successful in this field," Avila emphasizes.
Actually, anyone who has true passion in this field can be a pilot if he or she is successful in the screening processes.
Avila, for instance, graduated AB Management Economics from the Ateneo De Manila in 1989. In the same year, he was accepted as a cadet pilot. It took him two and a half years to graduate from being a cadet pilot, and eventually became an airline pilot.
His initial airline experience was as a turboprop First Officer.
"The flight time and the experience gained, that's how one becomes a seasoned commercial pilot. There's no substitute for experience and learning from your captains and instructor pilots. There are no shortcuts," Avila said.
He got his first command in Cebu Pacific back in 2002 as DC-9 captain.
There are three milestones in a pilot’s career, he added.
The first milestone is a pilot's first solo flight, when he or she would fly the aircraft without an instructor by his or her side.
Second milestone is what they call the first command or being a captain. "That’s why the DC-9 is my all-time favorite aircraft. That is very memorable for me, because that was when I got my first command; and it was a real iron knuckles airplane, they don’t make them like that anymore" he says.
Experience and a specified number of flight hours are among the requirements before one becomes a captain. They need to pass an exam given by the regulator, the screening given by the airline company. They also have to undergo flight simulator training, online assessments, and pass other requirements.
Final milestone, according to Avila, is when a pilot retires. Today, the retirement age for pilots is 67.
"It (retirement age) used to be 60, moved to 63, then 65, and now at 67. Maybe, this keeps being extended because people generally are getting healthier and remain fit compared with previous generations," he muses.
Speaking of being healthy, Avila also noted that one needs to be medically fit for this job. "This job depends a lot on one's health. He or she needs to be fit to fly," he said.
Those who would like to be a pilot must prepare for challenges. It is very stressful to fly, especially during monsoon season, Avila said reiterating that weather and air traffic are stress factors.
He added that one needs to maintain proficiency in this craft. "The industry is ever-changing with new technologies, evolving regulations. You always have to keep abreast with the times."
Do you have what it takes to be a pilot?
For those thinking of enrolling and taking the the necessary tests, do you have what it takes to be a pilot?
Avila noted that aside from being academically qualified and being in good health, flying should be one’s passion.
"Your thinking should not be, 'this is probably a good job because it's gonna pay me a substantial amount of money.' You should be service-oriented. This is a noble profession. You move people and goods to their required destinations, in your own way you are contributory to our nation building, and that's important," he said.
The CEB executive also reiterated that this job requires hard work and dedication.
"You can't sweet-talk your way into this job. You have to be efficient anddisciplined; possess good judgement and situational awareness," he added.
The biggest lesson he has learned in his journey was hard work.
"My dad always says that there are no shortcuts, hard work always pays off," he recalls. "In this world, where everything is 'instant gratification,' you turn on your smartphone and everything you probably need is there. Some things need time, effort, and dedication. You can't just sit down and expect everything to be handed to you."
Journey in aviation
Avila comes from a family of pilots. His dad is a retired pilot and is now a manager. His grandfather’s brother was a pilot; has three uncles who are also pilots, and a few cousins working in the US Air Force.
"My dad has influenced me a lot. But I didn't want to be a pilot just because my dad was one. I wanted to see what other opportunities were there for me, that's why I took management economics, to have more options," he shared.
The young Avila joined his mom whenever she would pick up his dad from the airport. When he was old enough to drive his dad to and from the airport, he would often hang out at the pilots' lounge and hear “war stories” from the pilots there.
"So at an early age, I had a pretty good idea what it would be like to be an airline pilot. Getting a business course gave me an option in case things would not work out in the aviation field. But then I became an aviation cadet and rose through the ranks," he enthused.
The training was hard and was very challenging, but quitting never entered his mind.
"I never thought of becoming a VP for Flight Operations. I entered the (aviation) field, became a first officer, a captain. I never thought I'd be 'flying a desk' more than flying an airplane," he said, referring to the office work.
The normal career path of a pilot, he said, is usually to become a first officer, then a captain, an instructor, then examiner.
How does he handle the everyday grind? Avila said he eats right. He has always been into fitness sports. He was a sprinter for his school track team.
"I always keep myself active -- now I'm into Crossfit. Maintaining your health and fitness is very important whatever field you're in. Having a balanced life is also very important," he added.
"Aviation is not my only world. I need to have a life outside work. I believe balance is the key. If you just think about work all the time, you will burn out," he explained.
The executive says he's no genius. "I’d like to believe I have a fair amount of common sense." Being an athlete, he said, has helped him a lot.
Being competitive, really focused, and being a disciplinarian have also helped him in his journey.
"My mom taught me the value of hard work. The Jesuits in the school that I went to, taught me well about good values. The captains I have flown with, who shared with me their experiences, expertise, and knowledge, I value them a lot. I owe it to them, and of course that includes my instructors," he said. “I guess that is my duty -- to do the same thing.”
As VP for flight operations, Avila's task is make sure all 700 pilots of CEB fly their aircraft in the safest and most efficient manner.
He was a chief pilot before he became CebGo's VP for flight operations in 2016, and for CEB since 2017. All of Cebu Pacific’s pilots report to him.
One may think that he had a “backer” in this field, especially because he came from a family of pilots.
"I applied just like anyone. I took the exam, had to go through the standard screening process, etc., just like anybody else."
Even if he's an executive now, he targets to fly at least once a week. He flies the “short hops,” such as Manila-Cebu or Manila-Hong Kong. "I usually fly in the morning and get back around lunch time then do a bit of office work. I get to see our daily operations and get in touch with the guys. Those things are important," he said.
Not like driving a car
In a previous interview with PNA, Avila said that for one to become a pilot, he or she needs to prepare PHP2 million to PHP3.8 million for a 12-month training program. He or she would also need to renew license every six months.
Thus, pilot training is a high-risk investment, since the training fees are high, yet there's no guarantee for employment.
Last year, CEB launched its Cadet Pilot training program, wherein successful applicants could "study now, and pay later."
Interested applicants may check the airline's website for the application form. After the online screening, there will be an onsite screening for core skills and aptitude tests. Both the airline and the Flight Training Adelaide (FTA) will select who would be the successful candidates.
Successful applicants will undergo a rigorous screening process -- a 52-week integrated flying program, flight theory, and education course at the FTA in Australia. Cadet pilots will then train on a flight simulator, then on an actual aircraft, for them to complete the licensing requirements to be a commercial pilot.
They will return to the Philippines to undergo a four-week training to get a pilot's license.
CEB has allotted USD25 million for this program, which it plans to run for at least five years.
"Anyone who has the desire can be a pilot and get a license. There are requirements to be a commercial pilot," Avila said.
For the fresh graduates, Avila said they need to study hard and be well-rounded.
Avila also described that flying an airbus or a Boeing or ATR is much more complicated than flying a Cessna or a trainer aircraft. "There's more responsibility because you have passengers at the back," he explained.
The executive emphasized that if someone knows how to fly a trainer plane, that doesn't mean he or she also knows how to fly a commercial plane.
He said, “It's not like driving a car, getting into a Honda then into a Hyundai. You just can't hop into any other airplane. It requires a “type-rating. Unlike cars or bikes, airplanes require specific training." (PNA)
