Zest Air teams up with AAG for pilot training

Local Zest Airways has tapped the services of one of the country’s foremost third-party pilot training centers as the airline looks to expand its domestic and international operations.

In a statement Thursday, Zest Airways and Clark Freeport’s Alpha Aviation Group Philippines (AAG) announced a partnership for the training of the airline’s future pilots starting September this year.

AAG Philippines, a unit of the United Kingdom’s AAG, has a state-of-the-art flight simulator that can train pilots to handle jet liners such as the Airbus A320.

“Zest Airways will benefit from AAG’s extensive training expertise and sophisticated training methodologies in the airbus field,” the airline said in a statement.  The airline company said its first officers will be trained under the First Officer Training program of AAG Philippines.

The close and long-term collaboration promises substantial advantages not only to both organizations but also to the aviation industry, according to Kunal Sharma, chief operating officer of AAG.

The state-of-the-art training platform will allow Zest Airways Inc. flexible use of training devices, instruction material and examination tools.

“With AAG, we have the perfect training partner, right on our doorstep in the Philippines, to deliver an innovative training program of the highest international and safety standards,” said Zest Airways chief executive adviser Brian Hogan said.

Launched in 2006, AAG Philippines is a leading provider of Multi-crew Pilot License (MPL) training.