“I will never be able to buy a sports car by being a cabin crew.” Really? Guess what, thanks to his job, this flight steward now owns eleven airplanes. Meet Sahl Onglatco, a flight attendant, licensed pilot, and business owner.
This guy appears to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Certainly not. Sahl’s success can be attributed entirely to his hard work and humble beginnings as a cabin crew. This also demonstrates that you can change all “impossibilities” into “possibilities.”
I’ve read some comments that said, “I could never afford this car as a cabin crew,” but Sahl’s story disproves that claim. Sahl would not be the entrepreneur he is today if he had not been a cabin crew member.
Currently, Sahl owns an aircraft and pilot supply shop, a flying school, and a private or chartered airline services. He still holds his job as a cabin crew as no matter what, it helps support his family’s needs. All these businesses of Sahl were born out of being a cabin crew.
Humble beginnings as a flight steward before owning 9 airplanes
Sahl is a natural aviator who began at the bottom. Sahl began working as a flight steward for Philippine Airlines in 2008. He was having a great time, just like any other new steward. Layovers, sightseeing, and purchasing items he could not previously afford. However, Sahl had a long-term plan, which was to start a business with the money he saved from his cabin crew job.
A cabin crew can earn a good living depending on the airline. Earning a living is one thing; investing is quite another. I’ve met a lot of successful cabin crew entrepreneurs. While it is enjoyable to spend time in other countries, such as shopping for clothes at discount stores, we must also plan for the future.
Sahl used his savings to start a small business selling small pilot supplies such as logbooks and other small pilot items. Things did not happen overnight; Sahl had to put in a lot of effort. Sahl founded Sky Aerotrade with the money he earned from selling items and working as a cabin crew. This was the beginning of everything.
From a single to multiple businesses in aviation
Sky Aerotrade began as a small company with a big vision. This was Sahl’s intention. As a cabin crew member, he was able to observe new trends in pilot and aircraft parts. Instead of spending his layovers sightseeing, he would use them to figure out how to expand Sky Aerotrade. Sahl was able to establish contacts with suppliers both in the Philippines and abroad. As a result, Sahl was able to broaden his market from pilot supplies to aircraft parts.
Sahl, who is also a licensed pilot, understands the needs of the Philippine aviation industry. Sky Aerotrade expanded its market reach, product offerings, and customer base. As a result, Sahl decided to put his money to work by starting more businesses. He later established a flying school and a chartered airline company, offering various services such as medivac flights and cargo services.
This flying school is now Topflite Academy.
Sahl has progressed from purchasing pilot supplies to purchasing airplanes. He currently has eleven aircraft in his possession. Turbo LET 410, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Piper Aztec, Cessna 182, Cessna 206, and an ultra-rare Cessna 152 Aerobat are among them. Of course, Sahl has bigger plans, and we’re excited to see what comes next for him.
Flying up in the sky while keeping his feet on the ground
Despite his success, Sahl is one of the most humble people we know. Sahl is a successful family man in addition to being a successful cabin crew entrepreneur. His wife works as a pilot for a commercial airline. They may have three future generation aviators, or three children.
Sahl credits his success to his family, who has always supported him in all of his endeavors. He is still striving for excellence in everything he does.
Sahl is living proof that no matter where you are in life, you can make all of your dreams come true. Yes, being a cabin crew member enabled Sahl to open more businesses, allowing him to purchase eleven planes as assets.
Important lesson learned being a cabin crew
I asked Sahl what were significant lessons he learned as a cabin crew that helped him. This is what he said. “Well basically for a cabin crew, the world will open its arms to you. You see things outside the country that you can bring in, you are more open to other business, you are more open to other cultures. You know, Filipinos say ‘gaya-gaya tayo eh. Kung anong uso doon, dyan tayo.’ For us cabin crew, we have to have a good sight on those things. If we see them, we have to get it. There are a lot of people that has bright ideas, okay that’s bright, but how will you do it, that’s different. So what I would do is to look for the problem, look outside their problem, find the solution, then bring it here, then you have a business. It’s not the idea, it’s the problem. Look for the problem.”
Nothing is out of reach. All of our dreams are within reach from where we are right now. This is one story that will always inspire us, from being a flight steward to now owning eleven airplanes.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
