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Newsletter Volume 2/07 Newsletter Volume 2/07
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In less than 2 years since its establishment, APFT have obtained the ISO 9001-2000, and at the same time reached the status of an IPTS. These achievements would not be possible without the hard work put in by the staff. I would like to thank all the staff for their commendable performance and I must add that we should be proud to be the first aviation institution to be granted the IPTS status by the Ministry of Higher Education.
In keeping with the status, we will ensure that the standard and quality of teaching is maintained at all times.
We are also proud to be associated with an international organization, Jeppesen, a subsidiary of Boeing and an established aviation company.
Presently, apart from local cadets, we are also training foreign airline cadets. The Royal Nepal Airlines cadets have started their training at the academy.
APFT intends to be Asia Pacific’s leading provider of pilot training, with standards of teaching that will bring out the best in the cadets. Besides learning to fly, they are trained to be desciplined, to have teamwork spirit and leadership qualities. This is important as one day they will be captains in an airline.
I am also happy to note that the cadets are now settled in their new residence, the ‘Crew Residence’. To all students and staff, I wish you a Happy New Year 2008.
Dato’ Faruk Othman
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| Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of Higher Education giving his speech at the ceremony. |
Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa presenting the IPTS Award to the CEO. |
The Principal receiving SIRIM certification from Chairman of SIRIM, Dato’ Ariffin Aton
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The flight academy has been working towards obtaining the IPTS status. ‘Institute Pelajaran Tinggi Swasta’ or IPTS is the status of the Private Higher Education, whereby students obtain the level of a diploma or higher in their studies. Apart from getting their CPL/IR and ATPL (Frozen) certificates, cadets training in APFT will obtain the Diploma in Aviation Management conducted by APFT. With the IPTS status students enrolling with APFT will be eligible to apply for government study loans. On 19th August 2007, the academy was awarded the status of IPTS by the Minister of Higher Education, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed. The minister graced the event, which was held in conjunction with the graduation of the students of batches 02/05 and 03/06. Also present at the occasion were YM Tengku Dato’ Azmil Zahruddin bin Raja Abdul Aziz, Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer of MAS, Captain Kamaruddin Kamilin, General Manager, Quality, Technical and Training Standards, MAS, Captain Dato’ Yahya bin Abdul Rahman, Director of Flight Operations, Division of Civil Aviation Malaysia and Dato’ Dr. Ariffin Aton, Chairman of SIRIM.
Dato’ Dr. Ariffin Aton was at the occasion to present the ISO9001:2000 certification to the academy. In his speech, Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed said he was pleased that an international airline such as Malaysia Airlines System is confident in the flight training academy in Kota Bharu, as he noted that the 33 graduating cadets were from MAS.
As he commended APFT for its undertaking in obtaining the ISO9001:2000 certification from SIRIM and establishing a smart partnership with the American aircraft manufacturer, BOEING, Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa reminded that private education centers are also instrumental in assisting the Government in establishing Malaysia as a hub for higher education in the region and worldwide. He also called for centers of higher learning in Malaysia to strive for quality of education provided to their students.
Meanwhile, in his welcoming speech, the Chairman of APFT proudly acknowledged the honor for being the first flight training academy in Malaysia to be awarded the IPTS status by the Ministry of Higher Education. He also indicated that the ISO9001:2000 certification the academy received today from the Chairman of SIRIM, is one of various efforts undertaken by APFT to ensure that its students will leave as cadet pilots who are well qualified to join any international airline company in the world.
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20 August 2007 - The New Straits Times
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20 August 2007 - The Star |
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Batches 02/05 and 03/06 APFT cadets received their wings in a ceremonious event at the Renaissance Hotel in Kota Bharu. Present at the occasion was the Minister of Higher Education, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Mustapa Mohamad, Chairman of SIRIM, Dato’ Ariffin Aton and other dignitaries who joined parents to celebrate the joyous occasion.
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The Chairman with the Minister of Higher Education, Y.B. Dato’ Mustapa Mohamad
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Graduating cadets |
Bagpipers leading the cadets
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The ceremony started with the graduating cadets entering the hall led by bagpipers, complete in their highlander’s attire. The bagpipers entertained the audience with a rendition of musical pieces.
The cadets from the two batches received their wings and their scroll for the Executive Diploma in Aviation Studies. Top students in academic and piloting were awarded trophies and overall best students the “Top Guns” from both batches were heartily cheered on as they received challenge trophies.
In his speech, the Chairman said that the 33 graduates who received their wings today are cadets from Malaysia Airlines. Presently APFT is also training foreign cadets who are sent by other airlines in the region.
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Batch 02/05
Overall Best Student
– Top Gun Ab-Initio
Mohd Ridhzuan Bin Sapri
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Batch 02/05
Best Piloting
Zakwan Hisham Bin Ahmad
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Batch 02/05
Best Academic
Ajit Pall Singh Sidhu
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Batch 03/06
Overall Best Student
– Top Gun Ab-Initio
Mohd Faznee Bin Md Fadzil
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Batch 03/06
Best Piloting
Muhd Amiruddin Bin Salleh
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Batch 03/06
Best Academic
Thangaras a/l Welloo
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Dato’ Faruk also indicated that the flight training academy plans to become a full-fledged Aviation College to meet the needs of the aviation industry that not only requires qualified pilots but also maintenance and other ground personnel.
“We are in an era, where precision technology requirements have entered into all systems and services. This is especially so in aviation services. There is a need to train and change the mindset of our future generations to embrace high precision technological ways to excel.”
“Our vision is to build up a college that can deliver highly skilled personnel in fixed and rotary wings services that will include pilots, engineers, and other specialists in aviation.” The guests were treated to a sumptuous high tea to end the evening.
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Guests enjoying the sumptuous high tea.
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Asia Pacific Flight Training Sdn Bhd (APFT) signed a Cooperation & Marketing Agreement with Jeppesen Sanderson Inc. (Jeppesen), witnessed by guest of honour, Yang Berhormat Mulia Tengku Dato’ Seri Azlan Ibni Sultan Abu Bakar, Deputy Minister of Transport, at Crowne Plaza Mutiara Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Dato’ Faruk Othman signed on behalf of APFT, while Mr. Kirk Quong Sing signed on behalf of Jeppesen.
Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, a unit of Boeing USA. The company is the world leading provider of flight information services, flight planning, operation management and training services.
Under this Cooperation and Marketing Agreement, APFT will act as a representative for Jeppesen to conduct the Aviation English Course as well as for other training systems of Jeppesen.
 
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ICAO Aviation English Testing |
APFT conducts the ICAO Aviation English Test provided by Jeppesen at two centres i.e. at the Flight Training Centre, Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Kota Bharu and at the Administrative Centre in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
The candidates can choose to either sit for the evaluation via telephone only or have a combination of computer and telephone method.
The candidate will obtain his User ID and Password from the exam invigilator.
Each section of the test will be scored separately to show the level of English comprehension in the following four areas: Listening, Reading, Grammar and Vocabulary.
The Jeppesen English proficiency evaluation is also designed to assess the ability to understand and use ICAO phraseologies as well as common English. The test is intended to measure the six subskills in the ICAO language proficiency scale (Pronunciation, Structure, Vocabulary, Fluency, Comprehension, and Interactions).
How the test is scored: The Aviation English Test scores are based on the exact words that are spoken, as well as the pace, fluency, and pronunciation of those words as combined in phrases and sentences. One has to give quick, smooth, loud responses. Some test items have more than one correct answer.
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MAS pilots were the first candidates to sit for the Aviation English test and a total of 1127 pilots has signed in to sit for the test.
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From Wiener Neustadt to Kota Bharu |
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The Diamond DA40 single engine and DA42 twin engine equipped with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system is now in APFT premises in Kota Bharu after undergoing the required processes. The DA40 aircraft were delivered to Subang from the Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc, factory in Austria. They were assembled in Subang and flown to Kota Bharu.
The DA 42 were flown directly from Wiener Neustadt to Subang to undergo the processes required for obtaining the Certificate of Airworthiness from the Department of Civil Aviation. The aircraft were then flown to Kota Bharu.
The DA-40 aircraft took a month to arrive in Port Klang in containers and were sent to Subang for assembly. We applied to the DCA for the Certificate of Registration (C of R) and a team of our engineers and technicians did the assembly with help from the Diamond engineers. Ground tests were done to ensure that the functions of the aircraft were working. The functions tested included the avionics as well. Next, the compass swing was done to get the true north and ensure that the tolerances were correct.
Our pilot and a representative from the Diamond factory carried out an acceptance flight test on each aircraft. The DCA officer inspected the aircraft and verified all the documentation. DCA requires that a 100hours test be carried out and a flight test be conducted by a DCA certified test pilot. With results from the 100hours checks and the test flight, we then submit for the Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A). Once all the processes for aircraft acceptance have been completed, APFT welcome them into its fleet of aircraft.
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VJ is now Chief Ground Instructor |
 has taken over the position of the Chief Ground Instructor, replacing Capt. Baharuddin who retired recently. Capt. Ramamoorthy Vijay Kumar, who has a BSc from the National Defence Academy, India and a MSc from Madras University, India, has a wealth of experience as an instructor.
The management would like to congratulate VJ on his promotion.
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APFT Welcomes Nepalese Cadets |
Cadets from Royal Nepal Airlines arrived in KLIA from Katmandu and were welcomed by our Registrar. After registration in Kota Bharu, they were settled in the Crew Residence and then given a tour of the town.
 
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Fire Drill at Crew Residence |
Cadets at the Crew Residence were given demontrations in fire fighting by the Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat personnel to instill awareness of safety.
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Principal & Bomba personnel giving briefing.
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Students shown the use of fire extinguisher.
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By Soud Salum Al-Toky
Batch 06/07
Let me take a little bit of your time to tell you about my experience as a cadet pilot in APFT. As a student of APFT you will experience wonderful changes to your mindset, attitude, as well as personality. With these changes you will develop to be a professional pilot in the very near future. Once you have made a final decision to be a pilot, then APFT will be your home and not the one you are used to. Until you receive your CPL/IR with frozen ATPL, then you may move to a new home which is usually where you would be operating as a professional pilot.
In APFT we have very professional and experienced instructors from different parts of the world who make sure you are on track with your studies all the time. They always share their knowledge and experience deep from their hearts so as to make sure you succeed and realize your dreams. We, as students, are proud of our instructors for their wonderful knowledge and experience. Here in school, our mission is to pay full attention in class and score marks of 100% for all of the subjects, so that we can achieve our vision as a professional airline pilot.
Also, I would like you to be aware that our school is in an airport and that means major airlines such as MAS, Air Asia and Fire Fly are landing here in numbers throughout the day. This is a wonderful chance for us to gain more experience in a busy airport during our training. Also, not to mention the emotions we have while walking through the terminal and feeling like real pilots.
I, as a foreign student, would dearly like to welcome all of those inspired individuals who are seeking to be disciplined, professional and confident pilots, that APFT is always a smart choice for smart pilots.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to all of my seniors as well as my classmates for being so friendly and helpful to each other. This made it easy for me to adapt to the environment since I joined this school. Lastly, I would like to convey my thanks to our dear principal and all instructors for creating such a wonderful school for future pilots.
Welcome to APFT and I wish you all the joys and pleasures during your course of studies.
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By Navdeep Singh Kukreja
Batch 11/07
The APFT Crew Residence, as the name implies, is the hostel in which all APFT cadets are provided for the duration of their training in APFT. Board and lodging are provided at the crew residence, as well as transport to and from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, where the academy is located.
As it is located in the sparsely populated area of Panji, cadets find themselves in a quiet, peaceful environment which is both relaxing and conducive to self-study. Having said that, Panji itself is a stone’s throw away from Kota Bharu town, easily accessible on designated off-days.
Within the residence itself, there are more than 30 villa-style units, each of which house 6 cadets. Each villa has 6 individual rooms, one common hall, two toilets and two bathrooms. Each cadet is given his own fully furnished room, which will remain his to reside in for the duration of his enrollment at APFT. Each hall is also equipped with air-conditioning, as well as a central study table for cadets to sit together and intermingle, be it through group-work discussions, meals together or watching movies. Each villa also has a fridge and kettle for the convenience of the cadets.
In the main building of the crew residence there is a lounge and cafeteria area which are for common use. The lounge boasts comfortable couches, an Astro-equipped television as well as a separate area where cadets can access the free Wi-Fi internet that is provided by APFT. Newspapers are delivered daily to the lounge, both English and Malay for the reading pleasure of the cadets. In the cafeteria, food is served daily at designated hours, while coffee, tea and drinking water are always available.
A laundry room which is equipped with both washing machines and dryers is located at the back of the main building, and this helps ease the burden of cadets. If one were to step outside the laundry room, he or she would see construction of two new buildings. The first building is to be a full-fledged kitchen for on-site cooking, whilst the second building adjacent to it is to be a gymnasium, to cater for the exercise needs of cadets. Also, just recently a new futsal court was built just opposite the road from the crew residence, enabling cadets to now have the opportunity to play futsal at a minimal cost.
Being self-sufficient, the APFT Crew Residence is undoubtedly an ideal place for a cadet pilot to live in, as the mental and physical demands of flight training make a peaceful living environment more of a necessity than a privilege. As improvements are continuously being made, both present and future cadets can look forward towards a pleasant and fulfilling time during the period of their study at APFT.
  
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