TAKE OFFSINCE 1971

July 2019MCI(P) 30/11/2017

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SINGAPORE YOUTH FLYING CLUB

09 Visit to PearceAir Force Base 03 Welcome

On-board

13 CCA Events& Activities10 BFC Certificate

Presentation

CONTENTS

On 18 May 2019, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs, presented the coveted wings to 33 deserving graduands during the annual PPL Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony. It is heartening to see the commitment and determination shown by the students in their journey to achieve their Private Pilot Licence. My congratulations to the graduates and I hope that this will spur them to take up flying as a career with the RSAF. SYFC also honoured five Secondary School teachers with a Certificate of Recognition for their contribution to the SYFC CCA programme in their respective Schools.

A number of experiential learning trips were organised to enrich the aviation experience of our students - 130 Squadron at Australia Pearce Air Force Base, 127 Squadron and Air Force Training Command. SYFC will be recommencing navigation training flights to Pulau Tioman in Aug 2019. This is after a flight trial conducted in Jul 2019 to assess the suitability of Pulau Tioman as a navigation destination. Our last navigation training flight to Pulau Tioman was in 2004.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with St Gabriel’s Secondary School on the collaboration of the SYFC Training in Electives Aeronautical Modules (STREAM) programme which will allow the school to offer a wider range of aviation-related activities to their students. The SYFC Workup and Introduction to Flight Training (SWIFT) course and Aircraft Propulsion System course were conducted in Jun 2019 for CCA students.

SYFC held a Work Plan Seminar on 11 Jun 19. The seminar covered the work year accomplishments as well as the plans and roadmap for the new work year. It was encouraging to see the active participation and camaraderie among staff in addressing issues for the betterment of SYFC. SYFC continues our mission in providing a positive learning experience in aviation for our students.

Editorial AdvisorCOL (NS) Foo Yang Ge

General Manager

Editors

Ms Pang Mee LingCorporate Support Manager

Mr Daniel Tan Operations Manager

Mr Chan Jee Siong

MembersMr Vincent KohCCA Manager

Mr Kevin Su Chief Aeromodelling Instructor

Ms Rilvia Lim

Singapore Youth Flying Club 515 West Camp RoadSingapore 797695.Tel: 6483 5621Website: www.syfc.sgEmail: info@syfc.sg

Warmest regardsCOL (NS) Foo Yang GeGeneral ManagerSingapore Youth Flying Club

GM’s Foreword

2

Recruitment Executive Officer

Take Off is the official newsletter of the Singapore Youth Flying Club. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the Editor, the SYFC and its Committee do not accept liability for any damage, personal or material, arising whether directly or indirectly from any article published in this newsletter. Views or opinions expressed here are entirely the contributors’ and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Editorial Committee.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without prior written permission from the SYFC. Copyright 2001 by Singapore Youth Flying Club. All rights reserved.

Mr Ryan Poon

Pg 3 Welcome On-board

Pg 5 First Solo Flight / FHT Flights

Pg 7 SYFC PPL Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony 2019

Pg 9 Visit to Pearce Air Force Base

Pg 10 BFC Certificate Presentation

Pg 12 SYFC Excellence Award

Pg 13 CCA Events & Activities

WELCOME ON-BOARD

BFC 240

BFC 241

BFC 242

TP17H- 19

TP16H- 19

RP7H-19

I had a memorable experience flying with my instructor, Mr Sam Lee. He was very patient when teaching me and he never stopped correcting my mistakes and reminding me of the right procedures. I am thankful that Mr Lee never lost faith in me and kept pushing me all the way till my first solo flight. My first solo flight is something I will remember for life. Flying around alone for ten minutes is something truly special and words alone cannot describe that feeling of being in control of an aircraft.

Daniel Hung Boon Lok

FIRST SOLO FLIGHT

After twelve months of flying training which included fifty-two sorties, of which sixteen were solo flights, topping up with seven test papers and countless hours of preparation, it culminated to one day of execution - my Final Handling Test (FHT) on 28 May 19. I have gone through the entire FHT profile in my head multiple times and know exactly what to do for the flight. It is what pilots call “mental flying”, and we mental fly before every flight to thoroughly prepare ourselves. After the brief with my examiner, we got onto the plane and proceeded with the flying assessment. The flight went as planned, and even the unexpected crosswinds were not a problem as I had practised in those conditions before in the previous sorties. After the two-hour long flight assessment, my examiner and I proceeded to do the ground oral quiz. I was expected to know every aspect of our flight, from how the aircraft functions to the privileges as a holder of a Private Pilot Licence.

After the oral quiz, my examiner stood up with a smile, reached out his hand, and as I shook hands with him, it occurred to me that after all the mental rehearsals and preparation, I am finally a pilot.

Siah Yee Long

FHT FLIGHTS

Daniel Hung Boon Lok BFC 236

Siah Yee Long BFC 233

After fifty-two sorties and seven written examinations, my final obstacle was the Final Handling Test (FHT) on 14 Jun 19.

The flight profile for the last few sorties leading to FHT was similar to that of the FHT, and my instructor coached me to ensure that I was well prepared for the test. I prepared thoroughly by mental flying repeatedly so that I would know exactly what to do during the test flight.

The flight was smooth sailing despite the unexpected crosswinds and cloudy condition and I was able to perform up to standard. After nearly two hours of flying, I passed my flying segment.

After the oral quiz, my examiner stood up and shook my hand to congratulate me on passing the FHT. I was overjoyed as I am finally a holder of a Private Pilot Licence.

Kenneth Chia Yong Chin

Flying was all but just a dream until I came across an article in the Chinese newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao of Mr Lee SL with his student standing smartly in front of a SYFC Diamond DA40. This piqued my interest and I continued reading on. I was pleased to find out that I could join SYFC to fly at an age as early as sixteen years old! At that point, I was motivated to see myself in a flight suit and be qualified to fly an actual aircraft. Since then, the countdown to 16 years of age began.

Starting my journey in SYFC was nerve-racking, for I had no prior flying experience, and my knowledge of the fundamentals of flight was close to zero. The very first few aviation words I learned during my first day in the Basic Flying Course (BFC) were ‘aerofoil’ and ‘camber’. The highlight of the day was the student-to-instructor assignment, and coincidentally enough, I was assigned to none other than Mr Lee SL, the instructor featured in the newspapers four years ago. The first few flights were tough for me as I experienced airsickness. Like other students, I made the same mistakes inflight despite constant promptings from the flying instructor. Thankfully, as I flew more often, my airsickness became less of a problem and my flying improved under the guidance of my instructor. Before I knew it, I reached my first solo flight and got to experience the exhilarating feeling of taking an aircraft up in the air alone. Moving on to the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) course, I was allowed to continue with Mr Lee SL as my Primary Instructor. There were new flying skills to be learnt during the PPL phase, on top of seven CAAS theory exams that I had to take. Though stressful, the support given by my family, course mates and instructors, were invaluable in helping me to pull through, and allowed me to ultimately pass the FHT and receive my PPL.

Flying in SYFC has developed me as a person. I have learnt to maintain my composure even when faced with adversities or unexpected circumstances. Moreover, the value of resilience has been further instilled in me. Picking myself up after bad flights and setbacks was critical in ensuring that I improved and not give up easily. It was also the camaraderie among course mates that proved to be important, helping one another by giving tips and advice, and most of it all, sticking together through the good and bad times.

I would like to thank Mr Lee SL for being patient with me and not giving up on me when I underperformed, helping me turn my childhood dream to reality. While my experience in SYFC has reached a chapter, my journey in flying has only just begun.

Tan Jun Kai

Kenneth Chia Yong ChinBFC 234

Tan Jun KaiBFC 233

On 18 May 2019, SYFC held the annual PPL Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony 2019 for 33 Junior College and Polytechnic students who successfully completed the demanding year-long Private Pilot Licence (PPL) course.

Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, officiated the ceremony and presented the Wings and certificates to the 33 students.

In his speech, Dr Maliki said “I encourage the graduands today, as well as other young Singaporeans, to join the RSAF in its honourable mission to keep our nation’s airspace safe.”

Also present at the ceremony were the graduates’ families, friends, school teachers and lecturers, aviation industry partners as well as senior officials from MINDEF and the RSAF.

SYFC also honoured five Secondary School teachers with a Certificate of Recognition in recognition of their contribution to the SYFC CCA programme in their respective schools.

18 MAY 2019

SYFC PPL Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony 2019

TP14H-18Arrival of Dr Maliki accompanied by MG Kelvin Khong (then BG), Chief of Air Force, BG Tommy Tan, President SYFC & GM

Best in Flying award winner, Clement Limand family with Dr Maliki

PPL Graduate Darwin Lee Shao Rui and Marc Wong Koi Kiat with their fathers

PPL Graduate Muhammad Bin Mohamad Nasir and family with Dr Maliki

7

8

PPL Graduates Name

Tan Jing Yang Ryan

Han Wei Guang Ivan Isaac

Lai Zhen Yu

Clement LimFaris Chong Han Fan Kar Zhoun ClarenceNeo Lin Kiat AdrianSean Tan

Lee Shao Rui Darwin

Ho Zhi Wei LinusLoh Zhi Wei Nigel

Ong Kai Siang Gavin

Lee Da Jun JabrielTan Zhong Yan

Soh Zheng Kang

Yeo Ruei Jeriah

Chiam Yi DaFoo Toon Xian Jovan

Woon Alwangga Felix

Muhammad Bin Mohamad Nasir

Course

223-2

224

224

224225225225225

226

227227

227

228

228

TP12-17

TP12-17

229

229229

230

230

SYFC Best In Flying Name

Clement Lim VJC

ST Engineering Aerospace Excellence Awards-Best in FlyingName

Clement Lim

Cheah U-Jun Joaquim

Jag Kevinesh Jega

VJC

SJI

NYP

Teachers’ Recognition AwardsName

Ms Jasmin Ngo Wei Min

Mr Richard Au Wai Thong

Ms Rafidah Banu Bte Abdul Razak

Mrs Ho Kuan Kuan

Mr Tan Wei

School

Evergreen Secondary School

Fuchun Secondary School

Hai Sing Catholic School

Hillgrove Secondary School

School of Science and Technology

School

NP

TJC

NP

VJCNYPSP

AJCNJCISB

TJC

CJCHCI

TP

TP

TP

TPTP

SPNP

TP

SPWong Koi Kiat Marc

Cheah U-Jun Joaquim

Cham Yi Tian

Chan Jin Xiang FilbertLoh Rui Heng RyanAlvaro TanKho Yong Quan Davian

Chin Yun Guang Darrion

Lim Zhi En Maverick

Jack Teo

Jag Kevinesh Jega

Navindren s/o Tanapalan

Kiew Ten Wei

SJ12-17

PAC-17

PAC-17

231231232

TP13-17

TP13-17

SP5-17233

233

TP14-18

SJI

AJC

SAJC

SPSP

NYJC

TP

TP

SP

NYPSP

TP

SYFC Best In Ground School Name

Kew Ten Wei TP

ST Engineering Aerospace Excellence Awards-Best in Ground SchoolName

Kew Ten Wei

Alvaro Tan

Navindren S/O Tanapalan

TP

SP

SP

23 JUN to 29 JUN 2019Visit to Pearce Air Force Base

From 23 to 29 Jun 19, sixteen PPL students embarked on a visit to the RSAF Flying Training Institute, 130 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce, Australia, along with SYFC Instructors Mr Dennis De Witt and Mr Lionel Lye.

Throughout the seven days spent there, we spoke with pilot trainees and instructors at the squadron and learnt so much more about the RSAF and how trainings are carried out. They were very open to addressing our doubts and sharing about their growth throughout their journey in the RSAF. As young aspiring pilots, we are all immensely grateful for their insights as it allowed us to better understand what a pilot trainee goes through and how we can maximise the benefits we obtain from the training experience. We, too, had a first-hand experience of the life of a pilot trainee. Aside from staying in the bunks at the airbase and having all our meals together at the mess, we sat in on the daily morning Operations Briefings and had a go on the Pilatus PC-21 Simulator as well as desktop-based simulation systems, through which we all had a great time engaging in thrilling dogfights with one another. 

I, along with some others, had the privilege of going on joyride on the PC-21. The whole experience, from fitting the G-Suit, taking off, carrying out insane aerobatic manoeuvers at great altitudes, to landing, was like none other. In more ways than one, the PC-21 was very different compared to the Diamond DA-40 that we were very much used to. It is safe to say that all six of us who went on the joyride most definitely had a blast up there in the vastness of the Australian skies. 

The close bond shared between the sixteen of us is attributed to the heaps of activities we did together such as playing badminton, basketball and soccer with the pilot trainees at the squadron. We also visited Swan Valley, the Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek, Caversham Wildlife Park and took in all the beauty of Perth City.

On behalf of the other fifteen PPL students on this trip, I would like to thank Mr De Witt and Mr Lye for being so understanding and patient with us from beginning to end. They were the ones who took care of us tirelessly and drove us back to the airbase from Perth City while we were sound asleep in the van. They have been nothing short of being the best guardians and instructors, and have made our experience in Perth just so much more extraordinary.

Cheri Teo PAC-18

9

Visiting the Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek

On the van to Perth City

Me getting ready for the PC-21 joyride

Visiting Caversham Wildlife Park

Group photo at the entrance of 130 Squadron

All sixteen of us in the hangar with the PC-21

Having our dinner at a restaurant

On 12 Jun 2019, SYFC held a Basic Flying Course (BFC) and First Solo Certificate Presentation Ceremony for 34 students from BFC 235, BFC 236, RI5-18, PAC-18 and SJI3-18.

In his welcome speech, COL (NS) Foo Yang Ge, SYFC GM, shared his fulfilling experience as a fighter pilot in the RSAF, encouraging the students to seriously consider a rewarding career with the RSAF. Miss Joanne Nah from Air Force Recruitment Centre (AFRC) presented the career options available in the RSAF. CPT Ernest Bek, a former SYFC PPL student and now a RSAF helicopter pilot, was also invited to share his experience as a military pilot in the RSAF.

SYFC extends our gratitude to the parents of the students for their continuous support and congratulations to the students who completed their BFC and First Solo flights. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

12 JUN 2019BFC Certificates Presentation

10

BFC 235

BFC 236

PAC-18

RI5-18

SJI3-18

11

BFC 235 Name

REY ANG YI JUN

ROY ANG YI MING

NATHAN CHEONG XIAN EN

MATTHEW CHIA WEI HENGJETHRO HENG JING HAN LEE JIE HAOJAVIER LIMLIM YU TER

MAHESH DEVAN SHIKI VAAHAN

MUHAMAD HAIKAL BIN MOHAMEDNEO WEI YANG

NG KAY HIAN

NG YONG ZANJOWELL NIM

SRIRAMAN PRITHEKSH

CALEB TAN CHONG SHENG

RYAN TAN JUN YU TAN RYAN JEVON

TAN YI XIN

TAN ZHI YUE

School

THE RUI YING RAPHAEL

BENJIRO WONG

TIMOTHY WONG HOW ZER

ZANE YEE SUN

Certificate

TP

NP

TP

SJI(I)ACJC

SPSPTP

ACJC

TP

NYJC NUSH

SP

SP

ACSI

CJCAJC

ACSIRI

NYP

TJC

SP

NP

SAJC

1

2

3

456789

10

11

1213

14

15

16

17

18

19

2021

22

23

S/N

24

BFC

BFC

BFC & SOLO

BFCBFCBFCBFC

BFC & SOLOBFC & SOLO

BFC

BFC

BFCBFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

BFC

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLOBFC

BFC

BFC BFC

BFC 236 Name

AHMAD RIFAAIE BIN MOHAMED ALI

BRYAN AW JUN REN

HONG DOMINICDANIEL HUNG BOON LOK IRFAN MUSHARRAF S/O ZAHIR HUSSAIN

KARUN KUMAR

LAW HONG WUENLIM JIAN YE BRENDENJOSHUA LOW ZHI MINGMUHAMMAD AQIL SYAHRIN BIN SAMSON

ONG WEI QIANG

S KLYDE ALISTAIRSUM YUAN KAI

FABIAN TAN TZE EN

BENJAMIN TAN WEI YAO

JOEL TAN XIN WEI TEO CHIA MING

TOO ZHAN YUE

School Certificate

SP

TP

NP

VJCNP

NYPTP

VJCMJC

TPTP

SJI(I)

SP

NP

YJC

NPTJC

SP

1

2

3

456789

10

11

1213

14

15

16

17

18

S/N

BFC

BFC & SOLO

BFC

BFC & SOLOBFCBFCBFC

BFC & SOLOBFC BFC

BFC

BFCBFC & SOLO

BFC

BFC

BFC

BFC & SOLO

BFC

COURSE RI5-18 BFC Name

MAX KOH HONG RUI

PUA WEI KAI JONATHAN

ETHAN TAN WEI JEN

IRWIN TEO JIN KAI

School Certificate

RI

RI

RI

RI

1

2

3

4

S/N

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

BFC & SOLO

COURSE PAC 18-BFC Name

ETHAN LEE KEI SHEN

SOPHIA SU ZHEN LIM

NG JUN WEI JEFFONG JUN HENG ALOYSIUSSIM HEAN ZHOR

CHERI TEO

School Certificate

EJC

ACJC

SAJC

HCIRIRI

1

2

3

456

S/N

BFC

BFC

BFC

BFCBFC

BFC & SOLO

COURSE SJI3-18 BFC Name

DYLAN SIM RUI HERN

School Certificate

SJI1

S/N

BFC & SOLO

26 APR 2019

SYFC ExcellenceAward

The SYFC Excellence Award is given to outstanding individuals who excel in their schools’ Co-Curricular Activities.

Student Jerrald Capuno Caballa received the SYFC Excellence Award at Bartley Secondary School Commendation Day held on 26 Apr 2019.

12

13

CCA Events & Activities SWIFT (SYFC Workup and Introduction to Flight Training) Course

The SWIFT course is conducted for selected Upper Secondary School students whom show good potential for flight training. The objective of SWIFT is to give the students a head start to the BFC. SWIFT Course 8-19 was conducted from 18 to 21 Jun 19 for 24 students. The top six students of the course were awarded an experiental flight on the DA40 on 20 Jul 19.

Aircraft Propulsion Systems Course

42 students from the SYFC CCA attended the Aircraft Propulsion Systems Course. The first session of the course was conducted on 23 May 19 at SYFC. It was a lecture based session that covered the jet and piston propulsion systems used on various types of aircraft, their construction and working principles. The second session of the course was conducted on 3 Jun 19 at the Singapore Polytechnic Aerohub.

At the polytechnic, the students were given the opportunity to see, touch and feel the engines and other training peripherals at the Polytechnic. The activities included dismantling some engines to have better insights of their internal construction, and observing the starting up and running of an actual turbine engine. The visit to the Polytechnic allowed the students to better appreciate what they had learnt during the first session by leveraging on the Polytechnic’s inhouse aviation facility.

St Gabriel’s Secondary School (SGSS) STEM FIESTA

SYFC was invited by SGSS to participate in their school’s STEM FIESTA 2019. This was a career centred event that focused on the STEM fields – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. During the event, the SYFC CCA Department ran workshops on computer based flight simulator, while the SYFC Recruitment Section conducted talks on the Basic Flying Course.

SGSS and SYFC also took the opportunity during the event to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the collaboration of the SYFC STREAM (SYFC Training in Electives Aeronautical Modules) programme. This programme would be mutually beneficial for both SYFC and SGSS, allowing SGSS to offer a wider range of aviation-related activities to their students, and providing SYFC a wider reach to promote our flying programme.

The coveted SWIFT badge which students earn after attending the SWIFT course

Students observing the starting-up of a gas turbine engine Students getting an insight of the internal parts of the Lycoming piston engine

Mr Stephen Chin, SGSS Principal and COL (NS) Calvin Foo, SYFC General Manager, signing the MOU