Ex-Asian Spirit president is new CAAP chief

MANILA, Philippines – Former Asian Spirit president Antonio Buendia is the new chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, CAAP announced on Tuesday, July 5.

Buendia, who has 43 years of civil aviation experience, was also president of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation.

Former CAAP director general William K. Hotchkiss III said of his successor, “Coming from the aviation industry, Director General Buendia knows what is needed to sustain and even to propel the industry forward and farther.” 

Transportation Undersecretary Roberto Lim said the other new CAAP officials are Jim C. Sydiongco,  Deputy Director General for Operations; Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo, Deputy Director General for Administration; Donaldo A. Mendoza, Assistant Director General II, Flight Standard Inspectorate Service; Ma. Aurora Carandang-Gloria, head executive assistant; and Gil M. Macapagal, chief of staff.

Sydiongco is former Cebu Pacific vice president for flight operations, and safety and quality.

Tamayo served as Philippine Airlines vice president for operations, while Mendoza was former Cebu Pacific director for quality assurance.

Carandang-Gloria is the Philippines’ first female commercial pilot, and the first Filipina pilot to fly as a full-fledged captain of PAL in 1993. – Rappler.com