Expert brings aviation school to new height

                                 Amidst the bullish aviation industry

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By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINALONAN, Pangasinan – With a bullish future that awaits the aviation industry around the globe, the new head of the aviation college here has innovations in his sleeves on the new courses for students that are attuned to the dynamics of aviation.

TOP GUNS. WCC Aeronautical and Technological College’s 

President Ramon Guico III and Pilot-instructor Alito Getalica.

 Veteran aviation expert Avelino Zapanta, head and lead professor of the WCC-School of Aviation Business at the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College here said he focuses on the commercial, business, and management aspects at the college to buttress the intellect and skills of the students here.

“With the anticipated in passenger traffic and the predicted expansion by many airlines, the time is indeed ripe for training many highly qualified Filipino aviation personnel,” he explained.

To meet the incoming boom, Zapanta cited that WCC will lead the way in moulding its students to have comparative advantage on their profession.

“A business aviation degree program provides students with a well-rounded business foundation exploring all facets of business administration and management like economics, aeropolitics, accounting, marketing, finance, human resources management and valuable global business strategies,” he said.

Under Zapanta’s academic guidance,  WCC President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Guico III believes the lead professor will spike WCC’s role as an institution that develop highly competent aviation leaders of the future.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Zapanta in WCC. With him onboard we are confident that WCC can achieve its ultimate goal of producing high-caliber aviation professionals that will help propel the local industry into greater global heights,” Guico, the mayor too of this town, cited.

Zapanta’s excellent reputation hailed from his almost 50 years of leadership experience and knowledge in the field of aviation. From a rank-and-file position as a cargo clerk in Philippine Airlines in 1966, Zapanta gradually went up the ladders occupying various leadership roles before becoming President and CEO of the country’s flagship carrier from 1999-2004.
In 2006, Zapanta joined Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and was instrumental to the expansion of its operations from an all turbo prop airline flying domestic routes to a regional airline operating Airbus 320s.

One factor that distinguished WCC from other rival aviation colleges in the country is its state-of-the-art facilities. 
This includes the Alsim simulator, a European brand of flight training solutions that projects actual landscapes on a 180-degree screen and can simulate different weather conditions. The school also crows more than 30 planes that include brand-new Tecnam trainer aircraft from Italy with the two-seat P2002-JF model exclusive to WCC. 
Aside from training using modern aircrafts, WCC’s website cited, students are able to have a real-world experience because the school has its own watch tower.

The strength of its faculty is also a source of pride. WCC’s pilot instructors such as Captain Carlo Torres have more than 5,000 hours of flight time, making him more than qualified to fly a commercial aircraft.