Cambodia Ready for First Pilot Training School

Cambodia Ready for First Pilot Training School

23/December/2021

Training provider Alpha Aviation Group (AAG) has inked a memorandum of understanding with Cambodian holding company Negocia Ventures to explore the development of Cambodia’s first pilot training school. The announcement came at the same time as Boeing demand for pilots in the region to be triple over the next decade.

Negocia Ventures chairman and CEO - Thierry Tea, whom is the founder and managing director of PhilJets Group, told AIN that strong market demand coupled with a proliferation of new airlines in Cambodia had prompted the decision to explore a variety of pilot-training solutions, including a flight simulator. This had addressed on the shortages of human resource.

Based on their market observation, they had realized the importance of education, especially more new airlines entering the market. The local workforce must be ready to meet the demand.

The country is now serving eight domestic carriers: Cambodia Angkor Air, Sky Angkor Airlines, Cambodia Bayon Airlines, Lanmei Airlines, JC International Airlines, Small Planet Airlines, Cambodia Airways, KC International Airlines and the ninth carrier—Bassaka Airlines which will be scheduled service in early October.

Cambodian MJ Airlines and Air Siem Reap will be planning to enter Cambodia’s airspace in 2019. MJ Airlines told AIN that the company is at the final stage of receiving the air operator's certificate and expect to be issued on January 29. The Chinese-backed carrier will be operating a fleet of three A320s to destination in North and Southeast Asia. Air Siem Reap, a joint venture between Bangkok Airways and Cambodian investors, planning to operate routes between Thailand and Cambodia.

Tea said that Negocia Ventures and AAG will explore the possibility of developing an ab-initio pilot training program as well as cater financing options for students.

Headquartered in UK, AAG has steadily increased its geographical presence in both Middle East and Southeast Asia and offers a diverse portfolio of training solutions including ab-initio pilot training, "fly now pay later" schemes, and type ratings to tackle the rising shortage of qualified pilots in the region.