New facility to expand AAG Philippines’ pilot training capacity to up to 300 cadets a year across its three sites.
BANTAYAN ISLAND, CEBU, PHILIPPINES, 10 September 2026 — Alpha Aviation Group (AAG) held the groundbreaking ceremonies for AAG Central, formally the AAG International Center for Aviation Training Central Philippines Corporation, on 8 September 2026 in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu. The development spans two sites, the AAG Central Integrated Training Facility and the AAG Central Hangar at Santa Fe Airport, approximately five minutes apart, operating as one integrated pilot training programme.
AAG Central is a direct expansion of AAG’s Philippine training network. Together with AAG Clark and AAG LU, the new Central Visayas site is intended to strengthen domestic cadet capacity, training continuity, and operational resilience under the One AAG platform, extending AAG’s integrated Philippine training footprint to a third site built to airline-ready training standards.
Strategically located in Bantayan Island, Cebu, AAG Central will expand AAG’s training footprint in Central Visayas. Its operating environment and access to multiple nearby airports are expected to support reliable flight scheduling, efficient aircraft utilization, and diverse cross-country training opportunities.
Facility Overview
Designed to support an annual capacity of up to 160 cadets, the AAG Central Integrated Training Facility is planned around three connected zones:
- Learning Hub: classrooms, flight briefing rooms, simulator facilities, study areas, and administrative offices
- Accommodation block: twin-sharing cadet accommodation with separate facilities for male and female cadets, and food preparation catering to Halal and other dietary requirements
- Recreational Facilities: pilot lounge, gym and a swimming pool to support cadet wellbeing
The AAG Central Hangar at Santa Fe Airport is a separate site approximately five minutes from the Integrated Training Facility. It is planned to include two covered aircraft parking areas, flight briefing rooms, a pilot lounge, maintenance support, an instructors’ office, a clinic, crew support spaces, and ramp access for efficient aircraft turnaround.
Built on an Established Foundation
AAG Central builds on Alpha Aviation Group’s established presence at Santa Fe Airport, where AAG is the only CAAP-accredited Flight Training Organization (FTO) operating under the AICAT satellite facility authorization. This gives cadets a dedicated training ecosystem, supported by the airport’s runway infrastructure and lower air traffic density for efficient, focused flight training that reinforces AAG’s commitment to safe, reliable training.
- ICAO code: RPSB
- Runway: 16/34, 1,200 m (3,937 ft), concrete
- Elevation: 60–70 ft (18–21 m)
Development Timeline
- The Hangar and Integrated Training Facility: targeted for completion in March 2027
Upon completion, AAG Philippines’ total pilot training capacity is expected to increase to up to 300 cadets annually across AAG Clark, AAG LU, and AAG Central.
Ceremony Attendees
The ceremonies brought together AAG’s Board and Philippines leadership alongside partners from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) and the Local Government Unit of Sta. Fe. AAG was represented by Mr. Cherian Thomas, Chairman; Atty. Lourielee Garcia, Managing Director; Capt. Vicente Casibang II, AAG PH Country Manager; Rufina Santos, Group SACRe; and Capt. Clint Sanchez, Accountable Manager, AAG Central. MCIAA was represented by Atty. Glenn B. Napuli, Assistant General Manager; Atty. Tani Angub-Gaviola, Manager, Corporate Management Services and Business Development Department; and Atty. Lynn Martin-Napuli, Manager, Business Development and Concession Division.
AAG Central is designed as a flexible, scalable platform that can support growing cadet programmes, new training partnerships, curriculum collaboration, and regional aviation skills development. This groundbreaking represents more than the construction of a new flight school; it reflects AAG’s continued investment in a stronger and more resilient training network designed to support airline and institutional requirements as they grow.
Statements
“We envisage Bantayan Island becoming the epicenter of pilot training in Southeast Asia, a regional Centre of Excellence that sets a new benchmark for the quality, safety, reliability, and professionalism of pilot training.” — Mr. Cherian Thomas, Chairman, Alpha Aviation Group
“MCIAA’s participation reflects its continued commitment to strengthening public-private partnerships that advance world-class aviation facilities, enhance regional connectivity, and create opportunities for developing the next generation of aviation professionals in the Philippines.” — Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA)
About AAG Central: AAG Central, formally the AAG International Center for Aviation Training Central Philippines Corporation, is a new pilot training campus under development in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, Cebu, comprising the AAG Central Integrated Training Facility and the AAG Central Hangar. It is part of the One AAG platform, alongside AAG Clark and AAG LU.
About Alpha Aviation Group: Alpha Aviation Group (AAG) is a global aviation training solutions provider headquartered in the United Kingdom, with established operations in the Philippines and India and an expanding presence in Indonesia. Founded in 2005, AAG delivers end-to-end pilot training and ATO/FTO management, covering ground school, flight simulation, flight training, type rating, and recurrent programs.
