AeroEngineer1001: Meet Aero Engineer...No. 57

In line with PRC's effort to present Filipino professionals to the world, AeroEngineer1001 starts a series of articles presenting professional aeronautical engineers who, at present, are actively engaging in their areas of expertise and have established names for themselves. The article will focus on the aero engineer’s work and achievements in the field of aero engineering and highlight his/her participation and contribution to uplift the aero engineering profession in the Philippines...

As courtesy, the initial entry would start with the Chairman of the PRB of Aeronautical Engineering.

Aero Engineer No. 57

Engr. Ernesto B. Ferreras Jr.

Chairman

Professional Regulatory Board of Aeronautical Engineering

Professional Regulation Commission

Senior Technical Instructor

Lufthansa Technical Training Philippines

[Presented below is the article written about the Chairman as published in the Aeroscope Magazine, official student publication of PATTS College of Aeronautics, in March 2009. The Chairman was the commencement speaker during PATTS 40^th Commencement Exercises held at the PICC. The article has been updated to include present qualifications.]

40^th Commencement Speaker
2009

Engr. Ernesto B. Ferreras Jr., Chairman of the Board of Aeronautical Engineering, Professional Regulation Commission, and Senior Technical Instructor of Lufthansa Technical Training Philippines is PATTS 40^th Commencement Exercises speaker. Considered as an outstanding PATTS graduate, he was among the first ten placers in the first Aeronautical Engineering Board Examinations, the same Board which he himself now heads.

Elementary years...

Born in Silay City, Negros Occidental on February 2, 1962, he was an early achiever when he graduated as valedictorian at St. Francis of Assisi and as salutatorian at Silay Institute. He was fortunate to pass the exams given by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and became a National State Scholar in 1979. He then enrolled at PATTS School of Aeronautics, taking up Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. While at PATTS, he was active in presswork as the Editor-in-Chief of the Aeroscope Magazine. He was awarded the Distinction Award for Outstanding Scholastic Performance upon his graduation in 1983.

High school days...

He was among the first batch of BS Aeronautical Engineering graduates who took the first Aeronautical Engineering Board Examinations in 1983 and was one of the top ten placers. His first job was as an Administrative Assistant at Douglas Air Services in Makati City, where he initially began his familiarization with the air business environment. In 1984, he returned to his Alma Mater and for six years, taught engineering and technical subjects to students. With this experience, he acquired a Ground Instructor’s license issued by the Air Transportation Office (ATO).

Aero engineer at Gold Wings Aviation...

In the same year, he was awarded as an outstanding PATTS graduate for his achievement in the first Aeronautical Engineering board examinations.

While teaching, he was hired in October 1984 as an Aeronautical Research Engineer by Gold Wings Aviation in Makati City.

Young Engineer Ferreras was challenged to apply his knowledge in design, construction and assembly of an aircraft prototype dubbed Defiant 300, a project conceived and headed by the late Capt. Panfilo Villaruel Jr., former head of the ATO, (now CAAP) and former president of the Philippine Aerospace Development Corp. (PADC).

The Defiant 300 & Norlindo Group...

The Defiant 300 was an ingenious aircraft made of wood and installed with systems coming from other aircraft. The Defiant 300 prototype successfully flew twice in 1988.

After three years in the Defiant 300 project, Engineer Ferreras pursued graduate studies at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City as a PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) scholar taking up Master of Science in Meteorology. This allowed him to become a meteorologist for a year at PAGASA in 1989. In the same year, he passed the examination for eligibility given by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

As PAL ground instructor...at FlightSafety Boeing, Seattle, USA...

At Airbus Training Center, Toulouse, France...

In April 1990, Engineer Ferreras was employed as a Ground Instructor with Philippine Airlines (PAL) Flight Operations Department and later with the Training and Development Department at the PAL Learning Center in Ermita, Manila.

His extensive range of knowledge in the field of aviation allowed him to teach technical subjects to PAL’s flight crew. He taught pilots various topics ranging from basic theory of flight and aircraft systems to jet introduction courses and equipment qualification courses for the Fokker F50, Airbus A300-B4, A320, A340/A330, Boeing B737-200/300/400 and the Boeing B747-400. He helped develop training courses to maintain and upgrade the efficiency of PAL’s flight deck crew. He attended the A340 Ground Instructor’s Course (1996) at the Airbus Training Center in Toulouse, France, B747-400 Flight Crew Ground Training Course under Flight Safety, Boeing in Seattle, Washington, USA (1997) and A320 Ground Instructor’s Course again in Toulouse (1998). He had the chance to undergo simulator observations for the A300-B4 under Quantas Airlines in Melbourne, Australia and the B737-300 under PAL Flight Operations.

On February 13, 1994, Engineer Ferreras was awarded as an outstanding PATTS Alumnus for his contribution to the aviation industry as a professional educator and technical instructor.

Engineer Ferreras has been an active member of the Society of Aerospace Engineers of the Philippines (SAEP) since 1984. He was first appointed as assistant PRO and under Engr. Douglas Macias, former SAEP President, he was actively involved in the process of changing SAEP’s name from Society of Aeronautical Engineering of the Philippines to Society of Aerospace Engineering of the Philippines due to problems with reviving the Society’s original name of registration with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). Later, he was elected as the organization’s Business Manager, then Director for the Airline Sector. In 1998, he was elected as Vice President of SAEP under then SAEP President Engr. Anabella Calamba.

His passion for writing never stopped even after his days in Aeroscope Magazine. He served as editor/publication consultant for The Aero Engineer in 2004 and Aero Digest in 1993. In addition, he wrote for Bato-Balani (Science) Magazine starting in 1997 and in 2004, for the Toyz for the Boyz Magazine for two years.

As Senior Technical Instructor at Lufthansa Tech Training Phil...

In May 2005, he transferred to Lufthansa Technical Training Philippines where he became senior aircraft instructor after a few years. Equipped with his experience as a ground instructor for engineering and flight crew, he continued teaching, this time he conducted classes for aircraft mechanics and engineers of Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP).

Conducting classes outside the country...

As part of his job, he was sent to various places abroad to conduct classes and courses, like Hongkong, Singapore, Narita (Japan), Kuala Lumpur, Zhuhai, Bangkok, Haikou (Hainan), Guangzhou, Beijing, Seoul, Inchon (So. Korea), Honolulu, Los Angeles, Melbourne, and Valletta (Malta).

As Simulator Instructor for maintenance crew

His love for teaching motivated him to pursue more training under LTTP, such as engine and line & base maintenance courses for various Airbus and Boeing aircraft, jet engine run-up. He also trained in new aircraft, completing EASA B1/B2 courses on B737NG, A380 Super Jumbo and manufacturer's training on A350 in Toulouse, France.

SAEP nominated Engineer Ferreras and he was subsequently appointed as Member of the Professional Regulatory Board (PRB) of Aeronautical Engineering under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Taking the oath...

After a few years, he was appointed as Chairman. His PRC appointment presented Engineer Ferreras the chance to contribute to the advancement of his chosen profession. As Chairman, not only he prepares questions for licensure examinations, but he also tackled issues and concerns presently affecting all the professions under the mandate of PRC, including aeronautical engineering. Presently, the most pressing of the issues is the implementation of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program.

Equally vital is the establishment of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) for aeronautical engineering, together with how this relates to Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with countries in the ASEAN.

The PRB of Aeronautical Engineering...

This means also that the professionals should follow a specific career path as indicated in the Career Pathing & Progression program.

And also equally daunting is the implementation of the provisions of Presidential Decree 1570, the basic law of aeronautical engineering, foremost of which is the inspection & monitoring of establishments & schools.

All of these do not include the effort and time that he would dedicate to the revision of the Aeronautical Engineering Bill. The functions and responsibilities of a PRB member or chairperson have come a long way indeed since PRC was founded.

Doing my job as Chairman, PRB of Aero Engineering, PRC...

These work experiences eminently qualify Engineer Ferreras for the position he now currently occupies, not to mention his graduate studies and the fact that he holds an aeronautical engineer’s license, a ground instructor’s license, and an aircraft mechanic’s license.