The Philippine State College of Aeronautics or PhilSCA is the aviation state college of the Republic of the Philippines with its main campus located at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Aside from its undergraduate courses, it is the only institution in the Philippines that offers masters and doctoral programs in aeronautical education and management. It was initially established in 1967 as Basa Air Base Community College by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to address the problem plaguing the 5th Fighter Wing of the Philippine Air Force stationed at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga. Most of its graduates are employed in the AFP, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Aerospace and Development Corporation, Air Transportation Office, as well as by local and international airline companies, aeronautical colleges and flight schools, and aircraft repair stations.
Brief History
It was initially established in 1967 as Basa Air Base Community College by the AFP pursuant to AFP Regulations S. 168-342 and approved by the Department of National Defense on April 1, 1968. On June 1969, it officially opened its doors to cater to the immediate needs of military personnel, their dependents, and AFP civilian employees stationed at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga.
On January 26, 1977, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1078 converting Basa Air Base Community College to Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics with its main campus in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, Metro Manila. Although with state college status, its charter did not provide for government subsidy as it was considered as a non-profit and non-stock educational institution. Aside from Villamor Air Base and Basa Air Base, additional campuses was also created in Sangley Air Base, Fernando Air Base, and Mactan Air Base. During this period, it was envisioned by Philippine Air Force authorities to be the Philippine Air Force Academy to solve its problem in the procurement and training of its officer pilots through the merging of the Philippine Air Force Flying School and the Philippine Air Force Regular Officer Procurement Program.
On June 3, 1992, President Corazon C. Aquino approved the Republic Act No. 7605 converting Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics to Philippine State College of Aeronautics. In 1994, its Board of Trustees approved the creation of its own flight school that will train students for private pilot and commercial pilot. In 1997, it acquired its first trainer plane --- a Tampico STB9-C aircraft (RP 2200) which was donated by Senator Raul Roco from his country-wide development fund and another Tampico STB9-C aircraft (RP 2204) was purchased for P10 million from PhilSCA Development Fund.
Official College Names
>>Basa Air Base Community College (June 1969 to January 26, 1977)
>>Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics (January 26, 1977 to June 3, 1992)
>>Philippine State College of Aeronautics (June 3, 1992 to date)
