MANY of us dream of becoming a pilot as the job entails travelling from one continent to another and taking pleasure in the view of the clear blue sky and white fluffy clouds.
Thanks to Asia Pacific Flight Training (APFT), you can now fulfill your childhood dream of soaring in the sky by becoming a qualified pilot.
APFT is a flight education and training services provider which was set up to provide training towards obtaining a professional pilot’s license.
APFT also operates at two other airports, namely Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport Subang and Sultan Mahmud Airport Kuala Terengganu. Established in 2006, APFT was issued with a license by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia and eventually internationally recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
APFT has been selected by Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and other major airlines as an approved organization for flight training of their cadet pilots. The academy has also been awarded the status of an advanced tertiary education institution by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.
It is also registered with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and accredited with the MS ISO 9001:2008.
While one way wonder whether there is still a demand for pilots, a recent report by Boeing states that the aviation industry requires more than one million pilots and maintenance crew in the next 20 years.
APFT executive chairman Datuk Faruk Othman agrees with the statement.
“Airline companies such as MAS and AirAsia have been purchasing new aircraft, which means the demand will continue to increase as one aircraft would require at least eight pilots,” says Faruk.
APFT has also received the IPTS (Institut Pelajaran Tinggi Swasta), the status of Private Higher Education institution, whereby students obtain the level of a diploma or higher in their studies. Apart from getting their Commercial Pilot License with Instrument Rating (CPL/IR) and Air Transport Pilot License (Frozen) certificates, cadets training in APFT will obtain Diploma in Aviation Management conducted by APFT.
In the aviation industry today, a career as a pilot is not only for the men but also for ladies.
“Recently, we had the first intake of female pilots from AirAsia and we believe there will be more in the near future,” add Faruk.
APFT has been training cadet pilots from Malaysia, Indonesia and India.
Ground school facilities
The academy’s ground school is well-stocked with a comprehensive range of aviation and management reference books in addition to the Internet that allows cadet access to the latest development in aviation.
Flight operation
The flight operation centre is located at the hangar complex, next to Sultan Ismail Petra Airport Terminal and shares the same runway with commercial airliners. This provides cadets the opportunity to fly in a fully operational airport environment, exposing them to the real airline experience. The hangar is also used by the Engineering Maintenance department.
Aircraft fleet
To date, APFT has a total of 41 aircraft, including the Diamond and Piper aircraft as well as helicopter.
Experienced and qualified instructors
APFT has a total of 49 instructors. The ground and flying instructors are experienced and come from varied backgrounds, both military and civil aviation.
On average, the ground instructors have a total of 27 years of teaching while the flying instructors have clocked an average of 4,000 flying hours.
The crew residence
APFT provides housing for the cadets in resort-style villas for the cadets. Each villa is equipped with amenities for ensure that cadets’ needs are taken care of.
Transportation between the crew residence and the flight operations or ground school is provided by its fleet or air-conditioned buses.
Student support services
APFT works with institutions such as Felda and Mara as well as PTPTN to provide financial assistance to students in need of financial support.
The minimum entry requirements are 18 years of age, five credits in SPM, O-Levels or equivalent, letter of approval from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Malaysia, a pass in the medical examination by the DCA Malaysia’s approved medical practitioner and good eyesight.
For details, visit Asia Pacific Flight Training at the Star Education Fair at booth A019 (Hall 1) at the KL Convention Centre.
Alternatively, call Datuk Jamal at 019-358 6985 or 03-2092 3177, e-mail registrar@apft.edu.my
or visit www.apft.edu.my
