Capt. Antonio G. Buendia has been appointed director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), leading new blood taking over the reins of the attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The fifth executive to head CAAP since its institution, Buendia is the former president of aviation firms Asian Spirit and Aerospace Development Corp. He replaces Capt. William K. Hotchkiss, who held the position for four years.
“Coming from the aviation industry, Director General Buendia knows what is needed to sustain and even to propel the industry forward and farther,” Hotchkiss said in a statement.
Transport Undersecretary for Air Roberto Lim also announced the names of the other new appointees. Capt. Jim C. Sydiongco is the latest deputy director general for operations, and Capt. Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo, the deputy director general for administration.
Sydiongco was formerly vice president of low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific, chief pilot of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), and senior safety supervisor of Taiwanese international carrier EVA Air. Tamayo, on the other hand, had served as PAL vice president for operations.
Capt. Donaldo A. Mendoza, meanwhile, gets assigned to the post of assistant director general II, Flight Standard Inspectorate Service. Capt. Ma. Aurora Carandang-Gloria has been named head executive assistant, and Gil M. Macapagal incoming chief-of-staff.
Mendoza is a former Cebu Pacific director for quality assurance and a Philippine Air Force pilot.
Gloria is the Philippines’ first female commercial pilot, and the first Filipina to fly as a full-fledged captain of PAL in 1993.
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