IFLY, SO CAN YOU!

More than just a skydiving enthusiast, Captain (CPT) (NS) Lawrence Koh, the founder and managing director of iFly Singapore, speaks to PIONEER about his experiences in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and how he grew to love the sport.

"To bring the joy of flight to the masses in a safe, accessible and affordable manner." This was the vision that CPT (NS) Koh set when he established iFly Singapore, the world's largest indoor skydiving simulator.

"The common perception is that skydiving is dangerous and costly, and most importantly, it is unavailable in Singapore as there is limited airspace. We brought in indoor skydiving with our wind tunnel, which is safe for anyone above seven years old to fly," he said.

Having clocked over 1,000 jumps, CPT (NS) Koh is a seasoned skydiver and holds many professional freefall qualifications, including Freefall Jumpmaster, Freefall Instructor and Tandem Examiner.

Passion for skydiving

CPT (NS) Koh took the plunge for the first time when he underwent parachute training as a Commando after signing on with the SAF in 1997.

Recalling his maiden jump (a static-line jump where the parachute immediately opens after the jumper leaves the aircraft) as both thrilling and scary, CPT (NS) Koh said: "When I first looked down to the ground from the aircraft, my heart was pumping fast. But as soon as I jumped out, my parachute opened automatically and I felt peaceful. It was totally different from the panicky and noisy atmosphere in the aircraft where everybody was shouting and the propellers (of the aircraft) were making loud noises."

The parachute training from his time in the Commandos sparked his interest in skydiving. In 2000, CPT (NS) Koh pursued further studies at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom (UK), where he graduated with a degree with honours in Avionics Systems Engineering.

There, he joined the Bristol University Skydiving Club and did his first skydive in Gap Tallard, France during a summer holiday break in 2001. With the other club members, he travelled to different parts of Europe such as France, Spain and the UK for his skydiving adventures.

An unforgettable NS experience

After completing his studies, CPT (NS) Koh returned to the SAF in 2003 and was posted to the Parachute Training Wing. In 2005, he became the Officer Commanding (OC) of the Parachute Training Wing, where he took charge of all the parachute training, including static-line and freefall jumps.

Instructors in the Parachute Training Wing are usually seasoned warrant officers, said CPT (NS) Koh, and as a young officer then, he felt that it was imperative to lead by example so as to gain the respect of his men and the veteran instructors.

He said: "Unlike many other young officers, I was lucky to have had a head-start of about 300 jumps which I did in university. With determination, I managed to complete the required courses to be at a similar level as my men, and was able to join them when they went for training in places such as the United States and South Africa."

CPT (NS) Koh was also the team leader of the elite Singapore Red Lions Parachuting Display Team for 2005 and 2006, where he performed in the National Day Parade (NDP) display jump. In 2005, he planned and was part of the team that achieved the first-ever Singapore record of a 12,500-foot skydive in formation over the city centre.

"It was definitely a fun and exciting experience. After I deployed my parachute at about 3,000 feet, I could hear the audience cheering from below," said the avid skydiver of his three-year stint with the Red Lions.

"But what I miss the most is the teamwork and camaraderie as we overcame the different challenges and put up the shows for Singaporeans."

iFly in the future

In 2008, CPT (NS) Koh left the SAF to pursue his dream of setting up his own business. Established in May 2011, iFly Singapore will be hosting the first Indoor Skydiving World Championships from 13 to 16 Dec. Over 200 flyers from around the world are expected to take part in the four-day event.

"We are very proud of achieving this key milestone. One of our key objectives in hosting this competition is to educate people that skydiving is a sport, not a ride," said CPT (NS) Koh.

When asked about the future skydiving scene in Singapore, CPT (NS) Koh revealed another aspiration: to get schools to recognise skydiving as a co-curricular activity and to encourage students to pick it up. "I wouldn't mind subsidising them," said the entrepreneur with a laugh.

Currently, the 36-year-old has set his sights on expanding his business in Asia. If he succeeds, he will be one step closer to realising his dream: making this niche sport available to everyone in a safe, realistic and affordable indoor setting.