Choosing STATA was a natural choice as I was working in ST Aerospace after my graduation from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2007.

Flying has always been my passion and I jumped at the chance when I came to know of STATA’s establishment. It did not matter that I was the first self-sponsored individual to sign up with STATA!

My fifteen months of training with STATA in Ballarat, Australia, was tough and demanding. There were many interesting stories which I had experienced during my training that I would love to share with you!

STATA’s career facilitation services greatly helped to open many different career opportunities for me during my job search. There were opportunities to become a Flight Instructor, joining a local airline and even an overseas based one. While job placement opportunities are not guaranteed, I am grateful to STATA for their dedication in facilitating my transition to an airline flying career.

ST Aerospace today announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has approved its commercial pilot training subsidiary, ST Aerospace Training Academy (STATA), as a Flight Training Organisation (FTO). This makes STATA the first third-party FTO in Singapore to provide pilot training without affiliation to airlines.

With this approval, potential pilots can now have more training options in achieving the CAAS Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating (CPL/IR), which is required by Singapore-registered airlines. Aspiring pilots, who train with STATA, will be CAAS-certified. This eliminates the previous practice of having to convert licences obtained from foreign FTOs to a CAAS licence. This latest approval offers more choices to aspiring pilots with the ambition to embark on a piloting career with airlines based in Singapore.

“CAAS is pleased to approve STATA as a Flight Training Organisation. With this achievement, STATA will augment the pilot training capacity and will help meet the industry need for qualified pilots as the demand for air travel grows.”

~ YAP Ong Heng, Director-General, CAAS

“With CAAS’ approval as Singapore’s first third-party FTO, STATA is well on track to achieving its vision to become a full-fledged pilot training organisation. Having undergone and meeting the stringent requirements of CAAS’ rigorous approval process, our airline customers can be assured that STATA is equipped to train pilots for their business. This FTO approval from CAAS attests to the high standards and processes that STATA has in place.”

~ TAY Kok Khiang, President, ST Aerospace
 

Managed and operated by ST Aerospace as part of its global network, ST Aerospace’s commercial pilot training academy now becomes the first non-airline affiliated FTO in Singapore, and the second FTO after the Singapore Flying College that trains pilots for the Singapore Airlines group.

STATA was established in 2007 initially offering traditional ab-initio pilot training under Australia’s Civil Aviation and Safety Authority (CASA). STATA has been operating under a CASA Air Operators Certificate since October 2008, which allows STATA to train pilots to achieve the CASA CPL/IR. STATA had also obtained the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) CCAR141 approval to train pilots for the Chinese airlines.

Apart from its CPL training programme, STATA is conducting its beta trial for Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL) training, a modern pilot training programme that uses state-of-the-art training techniques and devices that prepares pilots for operating today’s multi-crew jet aircraft. STATA’s MPL programme is developed through close collaboration with major industry players as stakeholders that include national aviation authorities, educational institutions, simulation experts and renowned aviation professionals to ensure an effective MPL programme.

Ballarat, 3 September 2009 – ST Aerospace today announced that its commercial pilot training academy, ST Aerospace Training Academy (STATA), conferred wings to its first batch of 16 student pilots at a graduation ceremony held last evening in the city of Ballarat in the state of Victoria, Australia. Of the batch, 15 are from Shenzhen Airlines in China and one is a private student from Singapore.

The batch underwent ground school and flight training in Ballarat since May 2008. With their wings, all students earned a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in Australia, while students from Shenzhen Airlines are eligible for a Chinese Commercial Pilot Licence when they return to fly for the airline.

Shenzhen Airlines, a launch customer for the training academy, has also committed two additional batches to train with STATA.

Established in 2007, STATA provides pilot training under commercial and air transport pilot licences curricula and by end of this year, Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) programme. Today, the training academy operates out of Singapore’s Seletar Airport and the Ballarat Airport with over 80 students and a fleet of 28 single- and twin-engine aircraft.

“I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky” – the first two lines of R Kelly’s 1996 song echoes the feelings that Captain Chira Fernando had as a little boy (a long time ago!), looking up at aircraft over flying Colombo in Sri Lanka (Ceylon at that time).

Captain Chira is the Head of Training with ST Aerospace Training Academy. Having command as a Captain of large commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 777 for 25 years with Singapore Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines, there is never a dull moment for Captain Chira.

“After 25 years of commercial flying, people ask me when I first dreamed of being a pilot, my answer, as always is: “As long as I can remember!”. The next question usually is: “Aren’t you bored with flying after so long?” and the answer is an emphatic “No way!” Flying aircraft is a great career and sometimes, for instance sitting in the flight deck, crossing the North Pacific Ocean and watching an awesome display of the Aurora Borealis I used to think: “They actually pay me for doing this!”

There are many reasons for a person to choose aircraft piloting as a career. It may be all that you ever wanted to do. It may be the challenge of a job with a high level of skill and expertise required or the great opportunity to travel and see the world especially if you work for a large and successful international airline. Even if you work for a smaller regional airline you get the chance to travel a lot. It is a glamorous job and undoubtedly a well paying one.

Whatever that motivated you has now fired up your imagination. You want to be a pilot, so where do you begin? 40 years ago, being an airline pilot was a ‘Macho’ thing and muscles were required - very few girls ventured into this arena. This is no longer true. The modern, so called ‘Fly-by-wire’ computer controlled aircraft require very light control forces. Now pilots manage the aircraft more than fly it and are part of a team rather than two individuals. More females now work as pilots and the glass ceiling has truly been broken.

Educational qualifications play a bigger role as pilots operate in a complex and crowded airspace in very sophisticated and complex aircraft. GCE ‘A’ levels is a minimum and many airlines prefer candidates to possess a University degree. Having a Science background will be advantageous. Some large airlines have their own ‘Ab-Initio’ flying training programmes where they take a trainee right out of university to train. Upon completion, these trainees are employed as a Second/First Officer with the airline. The trainee will undergo stringent selection procedures and have regular flight checks and medical fitness examinations to ensure that required standards are being met on a continuing basis.

Pilot licences are issued by the national regulatory authority. In Singapore, it is the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). A civilian commercial pilot must meet the standards of skill levels and Class 1 medical requirements set by the CAAS. You do not need the physique of an astronaut or fighter pilot and contrary to a popular misconception you can wear corrective lenses and still be a pilot.

Most regional and Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) prefer to hire pilots who already have a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). To get a CPL you have to enroll in a Flying Training School and pay for your training. Typically an Ab-initio programme can cost up to SGD 160,000 if done in Singapore and upwards of GBP 75,000 (SGD 165,000) if done in the UK. A Senior Co-pilot can usually earn USD 60,000 (SGD 88,000) annually and more than double that as a Captain, so the training costs recovery time can be quite short. To qualify as a Captain, theoretical training up to the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) standard and practical flying training in both single and multi-engine aircraft are required.

In recent years, a new system of training approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) called the Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) has been gaining momentum. The MPL training puts the trainee into Flight Training Devices such as Fixed-Base and Full Flight Simulators after only 70 -80 hours in a small aircraft. Trainees are taught to operate as an airline pilot in a multi-crew environment almost from the beginning. The trainee graduates as a fully qualified co-pilot on a modern jetliner such as an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.

The economic downturn has slowed growth in the aviation sector but LCCs and large Middle-Eastern based ones are upbeat and continue their expansion to be ready for the upturn which is expected in a year or two.

If you want to be a pilot, this might be the ideal time to start. When you get your wings in about 18 months you will be well positioned to catch the upswing of the economy and the airline growth that will result from it.

Why become involved in aviation? Why leave a secure job, spend a great deal of money just to fly planes all day? Are you nuts??

I was asked these questions (and lots more) by everybody in my life when I started flying. Looking back now I think I have a much better understanding of the question and how I should have answered these well meaning questions.

First though let me tell you a little about my background. When I began flying (in 1995) I had a reasonably well paid job in the public service and was (and still am) happily married. Once I started flying though I found I enjoyed the challenge (and yes the adventure of it) so much that it began to think of little else!

I then spent time thinking about a career in aviation. Like everyone I considered the cost, the career opportunities and the practicalities of making such a big change before finally committing to making such a big change.

Looking back I think of all the things I did to get my qualifications – the months of study, the hours of flying with frustrated instructors and the stressful flight tests – do I think it was worth? What do I say to the doubters?

Come fly with me on a crystal clear night when you can see the lights of cities one hundred miles away. Watch the look of joy on a student’s face when they complete their first solo flight. See the pride as they receive their Commercial Pilot Licences.

If people don’t understand this, I simply tell people that I still look forward to coming to work. I dislike holidays – I would rather be flying!

Would I change anything looking back? You bet – I wouldn’t have waited so long!
 

June 2, 2008, 2 pm. It was a cold and clear day, the most important day in my pilot career.

Roger, my Flight Instructor, jumped out of his seat and made an announcement for all other aircrafts to clear the circuit.

The plane was empty and light. The controls moved smoothly, the cockpit was quiet. When it was my turn, I made the radio call: ”Ballarat traffic Cessna172 WDA rolling runway 36 for first solo.”

I took a deep breath and thought to myself: ”It's show time.”

Full power, followed the centerline, and the plane accelerated as the propeller gained momentum. As the plane took off, I had to concentrate on the altitude and air speed. As per normal, I turned crosswind, downwind, base and final. I was flying slightly lower than before. But it doesn’t matter. After threshold, the power had been cut off, and the plane made its gradual descent. The instructor looked like he was yelling in my ear: ”Hold off, hold off...” The plane had touched the ground. Excellent!

Roger jumped into the cockpit: ”Well done congratulations!”

At that moment, the feeling was truly amazing. Words could not express how I felt.

From this moment, I will soar in the huge blue skies by myself.

That's the story of my first solo, simple but unforgettable.

Getting Your Wings, Cats Recruit in The Straits Times (13th June 2009)

Airport Flying High with $3.4 Million, The Courier (18th March 2009)

Its Back to Future for Pilots, The Courier (11th January 2009)

STATA to Launch MPL Beta Test, Flight International (10th October 2008)

Pilots Land in Ballarat, The Courier (29th September 2008)

ST Aerospace Pilot Training Unit Acquires Flying School in Australia (26th August 2008)

ST Aerospace Expands into Commercial Pilot Training (3rd September 2007)