The list of current professional positions for Alberto Delgado is long as well as impressive. CEO of the World Aviation Flight Academy in Spain, oversees all aeronautical activity at the Ascari racing circuit in Malaga, which includes the development of a heliport and a supply and equipment agreement with Air BP. He also exclusively represents Bell Helicopters in Spain and Portugal, and also oversees the development of a new heliport in Marbella while serving as flight commander for Iberia airline.
“I graduated as a pilot in San Diego, California, through the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) in the United States,” says Delgado. “Then I came back to Europe and I transferred my license to a certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), before joining Iberia as a pilot 22 years ago”.
Delgado continues to carry out his work as commander, flying in Iberia’s A320 fleet, now on a reduced time, in order to combine his time as a commercial pilot with his other multiple roles.
When asked about his love for aviation, Delgado explains:
“My family is dominated by doctors and pharmacists; however, I always knew that I wanted to make a career in the world of aviation. When I was a child, I would go to the local airport practically every day after finishing school and just look up at the sky. I could spend hours watching planes land and take off. I’ve always loved it. ” When it comes to managing and running different lines of business, Delgado says he relies on the support of his team. And he also admits that: “I can never say no. I don’t miss an opportunity”.
Dedicated to comprehensive training for helicopter pilots, airline pilots and professional drone operators, World Aviation has training centers both in Madrid (Cuatro Vientos Airport) and in Malaga (Malaga International Airport – Costa del Sol and the Aeroclub de la Axarquía), as well as at the Gerona Airport (Catalonia). It offers private charter flights (with a fleet of nine helicopters), MRO facilities, private jet broker and aviation consulting services.
“We cover the entire Iberian Peninsula serving both helicopter and fixed-wing customers. Through World Aviation, I also got to sign an agreement with Bell Helicopters as their independent commercial representative in Portugal and Spain” he says.
As for the Ascari Racing Circuit, near Ronda in Malaga (Spain), Delgado explains that it is an exclusive location for helicopters.
“It is the only private F1 complex in the world,” he says, explaining that it has been designed to meet the needs of motorsport enthusiasts, as well as to cater for private and VIP corporate events. “I have been providing my aviation expertise and services there for the past eight years, primarily overseeing everything related to aviation security on the circuit, from helicopter operations to fueling”.
Regarding the collaboration agreement with Air BP to supply fuel on the race track, Delgado underlines that it is a relationship that he really values in terms of support, as well as access to reliable and safe fuel supplies. Also under development is the project for a new heliport in Ascari, which Delgado supervises, and which is expected to open in a year and a half .
”I have been working closely with Air BP on that particular project and it has been a beneficial collaboration”.
In addition to the Ascari Heliport, Delgado is also working on the development of another heliport in Marbella, Spain’s Costa del Sol, which is scheduled to open in 2 and a half years. However, he agrees that the current coronavirus outbreak has thrown the entire industry into uncharted territory, and as a consequence, certain projects are temporarily on hold.
“It is an unpredictable time and the coronavirus outbreak is affecting all businesses, including aviation. Airlines around the world are suffering the consequences. We have had to suspend our training services as it is impossible to abide by the rule of social distancing inside the cabin, be it inside a helicopter or a plane. These are tremendously exceptional times, we must wait and see what the full impact of coronavirus is, and understand that we are all together in this”.
Up until the beginning of this year, Delgado acknowledges a steady growth in the demand for training especially for commercial pilots. He also highlights that when he began his career in the aviation industry, flying was still considered a form of luxury travel, but now, thanks to the exponential growth of low-cost airlines, it is becoming more accessible to take to the skies.
“We are constantly working on ideas about how we can accommodate this growth in passenger traffic,” he enthuses, “and although it is at a much slower pace than commercial aviation, we are also seeing an increase in general aviation traffic.”
While the aviation industry is somewhat “on hold”, Delgado concludes that he is always looking at how to move forward.
”I am continuously growing and learning in my professional life. And I am always aware of how I can collaborate, and contribute to my community, my country, my continent and my industry. Life is a juggling act, but I will keep looking forward and moving forward”.
SOURCE: BP
Aircraft autopilot exists It is a system for guiding the aircraft without the pilot taking the controls We explain how it works and how it should be used
Code Blue in Flight Blog What is a Code Blue in aviation? Code Blue is the term used to refer to time-dependent health incidents, that is, those in which every
You will be up to date with the news at World Aviation Group.
