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Air Link International Aviation College
November 2006

23 years of pioneering aeronautics education

The birth of Air Link International Aviation College is an uncommon story of institutional development.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

The 23-year-old institution stemmed from the laudable aspirations of its President, Capt. Geronimo A. Amurao, who was then gainfully connected with Philippine Airlines, as a BAC-1-11 Captain. This preoccupation has not daunted him from establishing an institution that will specifically cater to the needs of the aviation industry.

With a handful of close associates, the Air Link International Aviation School was born in 1983. Located in a small hangar with few employees and two training aircraft, the school started to train and develop aspiring pilots.

From these humble beginnings, the institution moved on to occupy a substantial property in the General Aviation Area, which houses its campus and hangar.

With 28 live aircraft and competent staff and faculty to boot, the College prides itself with having evolved into an institute of learning with the most complete training facilities in aviation education. This status lends credence from the fact that this institution operates a YS-11 64 passenger airplane and several single and twin engine computerized flight simulation training equipment as part of its present inventory of training facilities.

Despite the present legal and logistical limitations imposed by government, this institution continues to produce worthy and highly competitive graduates who presently make up the bulk of the manpower compliment of many of the country's leading aviation/airline companies.

If only to boost its existing programs, Air Link has established an off campus facility in a three-hectare estate in the island of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro. This estate supports several dormitories, which houses the trainees with the end in view of maximizing its training programs and assuring the safety of its flying and ground students.

The success story of the College can be summed up into several governing principles which the institution has indelibly adhered to, to wit: A consummate passion for community service through education; careful planning, a prudent handling of funds, an unrelenting drive to set goals and objectives and a conservative and purpose driven management exhibited by its leadership.

A pioneer in modern aviation education the College has blazed a trail in the field of Aerospace Engineering, which has eclipsed all other archaic fields in aviation engineering. The College is proud to have been the first in its category to offer this new program. In a similar fashion, it introduced several modifications and enhancements to time honored programs the likes of B.S. in Tourism, Office Administration major in Airline Management; B.S. Aircraft Maintenance Technology, and many others. But most importantly is the B.S. Aviation major in Flying, the college's own version of professionalizing aviation flying professions into a college degree program.

PRESENT TIMES

Today, the College is one, if not the only institution of learning, which genuinely espouses the principle of "niche education," evidenced by its curricular offerings. Simply, its programs are tailor fitted to the elementary requirements of one of the fast growing and vibrant industries, the Airline/aviation industry.

The College has steadily grown throughout the years by providing its learners with the best possible training in aviation, aerospace engineering, and allied courses. The College has been steadfast in adhering to its founder’s mission and vision of achieving academic excellence through technology based education; creating industry competent professional imbued with a deep sense of values with high regards for justice, equality born out of an environment which encourages the exercise of entrepreneurial spirit.

The College has been dubbed as the premiere center of aviation education in the Philippines. Aside from the usual didactics employed by other institutions catering to the same industry, the College employed programs which are calculated to train the learner to become not only employees but rather to be managers/leaders of their own enterprises.

The College enjoys the respect of no less than the International Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association based in Maryland, USA, owing to the fact that its programs were patterned from those of American Aviation Institutions.

Ultimately, the College has always in more ways than one sought to provide its learners with the best education. Its success is best exemplified by its products who by their own right excelled in their chosen fields of endeavor.

Small as it may seems, the College is more than meets the eye.

The College also boasts of milestones outside of each regular educational programs and remarkable accomplishments as a premier Aviation Training College that include the training of the first batch of Philippine Navy Pilots that served as the nucleus of Naval Aviation of the Philippine Navy; conducted Crew Resource Management (CRM) to Pilots of Cebu Pacific; conducted Flight Attendant Course to 23 Chinese nationals; holding of yearly Medical/Dental mission in Lubang, Occ. Mindoro as part of its CWTS; participants in the yearly "Alay Lakad" program of the government; participation in the yearly blood letting program of the government; participating in mercy flight missions, search and rescue missions in coordination with (RATSC) PAFARUS; annual Aviation Safety Seminar in coordination with the Air Transportation Office (ATO); participating in the Annual Convention of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of the Philippines (AOPA-P); conducts yearly briefing and orientation to batches of visiting graduating students of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA); and participation in fly by in the yearly Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clarkfield, Pampanga. These provide the right professionals in the field of aviation and its related industry locally and internationally.

COURSES OFFERED

The college offers four-year programs that include Bachelor of Science in Aviation Major in Flying—a four-year degree course designed to prepare students to become professional airline/general aviation pilots and to develop skills needed to be future managers/leaders in aviation. Graduates of this course undergo the primary basic ground and flying course (private pilot license) as well as the advanced ground and commercial flying course (commercial pilot license)

Short courses like Private Pilot Training Course (Ground/ Flight Training), a primary pilot training course which includes ground schooling, simulator training course and at least 10 hours dual and 30 hours solo and cross country flight with a total of 40 flight hours and Commercial Pilot Training (Ground / Flight Training), an advanced course which includes theoretical, simulator training and at least 150 flying hours that includes cross country flights are also offered.

The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, on the other hand, is a five-year program designed to give the students in-depth knowledge in aerospace/aircraft design, aerodynamics, propulsion structures and technology, flight and space dynamics, automatic control, structural analysis and aircraft component design. It also encourages and teaches cutting-edge research and development while the Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Maintenance Technology is a four-year course focused on giving the individual student a first hand knowledge of the "live aircraft and engine" that propels and airplane. The student is taught the construction, operation, overhaul, installation and repair of power plant, propeller, accessories and other structural parts of the aircraft. Graduates of this course can also process, repair, disassemble/assemble airplanes as well as make preliminary surveys, and estimate the required maintenance and repair of the aircraft and engine.

Another four-year program that describes the electronic equipment aboard the aircraft (known as avionics electronics) which compose of VHF, HF communication, navigational instruments such as VOR, ADF, DME, GPS, ILS & flight recorder and the airplane electrical generating systems as well as its auto pilot systems and the airplanes weather radar system is the Bachelor of Science in Avionics Technology. Turbine powered commercial airplanes, commuter and corporate piton powered aircraft and spacecrafts, use various forms of avionics such as vacuum & electrically operated flight instruments. Individuals gain knowledge of electronic theory and circuitry, digital principles and its application, aircraft systems and structures. They learn to install, test, check, repair and certify avionics equipment and systems installed in all aircrafts. Students are also taught basic electricity, radio and television.

The Bachelor of Science in Tourism is also a four-year course geared towards enhancing the knowledge, skills and creativity of the person for planning, marketing, financing and managing tourism programs as well as manning tourist related industries. The students learn to be effective and successful promoters of the country’s natural and cultural attractions to local and international travelers. Students are also taught computer literacy and basic selected foreign language while the Bachelor of Science in Office Administration Major in Airline Management, another four-year program for future entrepreneurs interested in a career in airline management, gives the student the opportunity to meet dynamic people and become qualified managers or staff in the airline or tourism industry. Students are also trained in the operational aspect of office management and basic accounting and recording system. With full literacy in computer technology as applied in business management in general.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, also a four-year degree program provides practical principles and knowledge of how the information systems are installed, operation, managed and administered. It is centered on the information technology education and teaches the students how to conceptualized design, develop, implement, maintain and program information systems (IS).

Air Link also offers two-year programs that include Aircraft Maintenance Technology which qualifies graduates to take the ATO licensure examination (theoretical and practical) that upon passing grants the students an Aircraft Maintenance Rating in Airframe and Power plant License qualifying him/her to work directly in the airplane, general aviation or airlines; the Avionics Technician Course which qualifies graduates to take the ATO licensure examination (theoretical and practical) that upon passing grants the student an Avionics Specialist License qualifying him/her to work directly in the airplane avionics and communications also the radar system; and the Junior Tourism Management Course that is designed to provide students the skills and opportunity of entrepreneurship in travel agencies, airlines and hotels as well as to travel and work here and abroad. It also brings opportunities to meet dynamic people and become qualified staff and managers in the industry.

Source: Manila Bulletin Online