GRADUATING WITH FLYING COLOURS

These teenagers have taken to the skies even before getting their drivers' licences.

It's early on a Saturday morning, and nestled amidst old airfields and colonial bungalows, 27 graduands of the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SFYC) are about to receive their Private Pilots Licence (PPL) Wings.

These graduands - 16 junior college students and 11 polytechnic students - have been whittled down from many, following an arduous journey of assessments and countless flights.

Among their numbers is Simeon Chan Jianwei, a recipient of not just the Wings, but of two other awards - the Singapore Technologies (ST) Excellence Award for Best in Flying, as well as the SYFC Prize for Best in Flying.

The 19-year-old, currently undergoing his Basic Military Training, admits that there were many times when he was forced to cut classes. But the Anglo-Chinese Junior College alumnus is very grateful to his teachers for "being very nice about it".

His secret to flying well? "Master what is going to come up, learn from mistakes, and never make the same mistake again".

The SFYC was formed in 1971, to introduce aviation to young Singaporeans to and to encourage them to take a keen interest in flying.

Back then, it had a mere handful of instructors and only 10 Cessna 172s. Today, the SYFC is a state-of-the-art club equipped with numerous high-tech training solutions.

Sung Shiuan, looking visibly pleased with receiving her PPL Wings.

Rear-Admiral (RADM) (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Minister of State for Education and guest of honour at the event, noted the advances made by the SFYC. In recent years, its CCA programme with the secondary schools has expanded from an enrolment of under 100 students in 2001 to over 1000 students from 74 schools today.

The ceremony also celebrated the achievements of two students, Wong Jie Wei and Lim Hin Heng, who took part in the bi-annual World Aeromodelling Championship in Spain last year.

Despite their youth and seemingly insurmountable odds, these students held their own against fellow competitors, even marvelling them with their skills and ability.

The vital role of the SYFC in helping students to achieve their dreams was a sentiment held strongly by Tang Sung Shiuan. The only female to receive her wings, she chased her dreams by enrolling in the SFYC after her 'O' levels.

"The thing about SYFC is you learn how to manage your time," said Sung Shiuan. "You learn self-discipline and manage your own schedule."

When asked whether they would consider signing on with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, both Simeon and Sung Shiuan replied unhesitatingly in the affirmative.

In fact, a total of 21 out of this batch of 27 graduands have done just that.