TO BECOME a pilot was one of the common answers individuals had when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Back then, it was rather easy for them to respond to that question given that, as a kid, they were not yet fully aware of how long it would take to learn and how much it would cost to realize their dream to one day fly an aircraft.

In case they are still pondering about pursuing their goal of becoming a pilot, this new recreational flight-simulation facility in the Philippines may help them in their decision-making.

At the heart of Metro Manila lies Sputnik Aviation, which claims to be the country’s first-ever recreational flight-simulation facility. Using a flight simulator, the facility gives aspiring pilots a glimpse of what it feels like to navigate their way through the skies.

About Sputnik Aviation

Sputnik Aviation started out as a streaming platform during the pandemic, which forced many airlines to reduce flights due to COVID-19 lockdowns around the world.

But the pandemic did not stop Captain David de Koenigswarter, the company’s founder, from exploring more about his craft. To keep current, he started streaming flight-simulation programs on a computer until it began gaining traction and eventually built up a community with thousands of members.

De Koenigswarter thought of a way so that people could experience being a pilot in a more realistic approach. 

This is where the idea of building the facility came to realization and was officially launched to the public in 2023. 

“The business model basically stemmed from, ‘We can do more with this.’ Kasi there’s nothing like this in the Philippines and in the region, the closest is as far as Singapore and Japan,” Ian Roque, head of business development and enablement, told republicasia.

“So we’re very happy, we’re very proud to have this in the Philippines to ultimately offer to the industry and to everyone [who] wants to become a pilot,” he added.

Pilot experience

Sputnik Aviation has two main goals in building its flight-simulation facility, according to Roque.

The first one is to “connect the public to the industry” and the second is to ultimately allow young dreamers and dreamers of all ages to get a taste of flying for an airline using its 1:1 scale Airbus A320 flight simulator. 

“It’s just kind of a glimpse of what could be and if it’s really what you want to do. If you’re a young dreamer and you’re looking to become a pilot–‘cause it’s an investment and it’s a commitment–so before jumping into that, we can see muna if this is really what you want to do and if you’re set on it,” said Roque.

“Even for parents din like, let’s say your child comes up to you na, ‘Oh, I want to be a pilot,’ Some people are taken aback kasi, you know, it’s not a secret [that] it’s expensive. But then, yun nga, it’s a commitment in itself and to be able to jump into that wholeheartedly, you have to make up your mind and dapat buo yung loob mo that this is really what I want to do as a job,” he added.

Sputnik Aviation aims to give its students an airline experience similar to how it is like to be an actual airline pilot. 

“The airline experience offers them that: the expectations basically on what happens on the airline, what button you’re supposed to press,” stressed Ruiz.

Once they enter the facility, students must sign some waivers for transparency in the checking gate, then undergo a facility briefing where some facility rules, such as the dos and don’ts, will be discussed.

They will proceed to a lounge that can be likened to first-class lounges of airlines. Here, they will undergo a pre-flight briefing to discuss what’s going to take place during the flight and essentially how to fly the aircraft.

Students will then be given a tour to the facility’s jet bridge that expands to the perimeter of the property and leads them to the Airbus A320 flight simulator.

The simulator features everything an individual can see in the cockpit, including the seating area for the flight crew, avionics and flight controls. There are also projectors that serve as the cockpit view.

 The Airbus A320 is currently the only simulator the facility has. It was manufactured and brought to the Philippines from Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Each student will be accompanied by a flight coach in the simulator. Sputnik Aviation has eight flight coaches who include real-life pilots and aviation enthusiasts. 

“We do see to it that everyone, whether you are a pilot or not, goes through the same level of in-house training to make sure that we are up to one standard and that standard is of a great one,” said Roque.

These flight coaches will guide their students through controlling the aircraft from takeoff to its airport landing.

“The aim is to have fun and to have fun safely. Kasi it’s not a good time if someone gets hurt, something is broken. So, the focus of it is just to offer everyone a good time safely,” said Roque.

Students will receive a certificate of achievement at the end of their session.

Other features

Along the jet bridge, one will pass by a control room which houses the tower controller, approach controller and ground controller.

“Yung nakikita niyong malaking tower sa NAIA [Ninoy Aquino International Airport], basically we’re trying to simulate that dito sa room na ‘to. And there are actual people na ma-a-assign dito during events,” Giann Ruiz, facility manager and commercial director of Sputnik Aviation, shared with republicasia.

Most of the design of the facility was inspired by Ruiz’s ideas.

The facility manager said that a total of eight people can participate in such events in the control room through a virtual network called VATSIM.

“Since we started virtually, so syempre we wanted to give them an avenue dito sa ating simulator center for us to bond with our passion, especially in the aviation industry,” he added.

There is also a classroom that can be extended into a lounge for the events. Sputnik Aviation also offers free classes for the aspiring pilots, where they invite speakers who will help spark the students’ passion for aviation.

Sputnik Aviation offers Instagrammable experiences as well to its students, with its mock design of a fuselage, or the body of an airplane, displayed on the wall along the jet bridge.

“One of our eye candies talaga dito is the fuselage of the aircraft para talagang for photoshoot kasi marami tayong clients na more on Instagram yung habol nila,” Ruiz said.

Rates 

Sputnik Aviation offers a one-hour session to its customers. Its regular rate starts at P9,699 but the good news is that it has a limited promo offer of P8,888 until February 29, 2024.

For a group of friends who want to have a pilot experience, the facility has a barkada package wherein four people can share the hour.

If there are four people in a group, they can pay P2,999 per hour. But if there are only two or three individuals, they can split the hourly cost of P11,966.

These packages have the same inclusions such as the pre-flight briefing, the use of the lounge, coffee and snacks, according to Roque.

Open to everyone

Everyone who dreams of becoming a pilot or perhaps, just wants to experience flying an aircraft is welcome to book a session with Sputnik Aviation.

They cater to kids, young adults, adults and even professionals, said Roque.

But there are some conditions that the simulator center has for young individuals. 

Those under eight years of age must be accompanied by and sit on the lap of a parent or guardian during the flight-simulation session.

“We cater to all ages, but especially for the young generation, if you’re dreaming of becoming a pilot or have ideas of becoming a pilot, you can realize and reinforce those with Sputnik Aviation. Just please message [our] Facebook page or visit us, we’ll show you around,” said Roque.