SYFC COURSE PRODUCES 31 BUDDING RSAF PILOTS

The Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) gave out "wings" to 31 graduands of its Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) Course on 25 Apr, along with a number aviation awards, at the club's base in Seletar.

Guest of honour Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, who is also Minster of State for Defence noted in his speech at the ceremony: "Many Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilots first learnt to fly at the SYFC. In fact, the President of SYFC Management Committee, Brigadier-General (NS) Charles Sih, was a former student of SYFC that benefited from the PPL programme and rose to the No. 2 position in the Republic of Singapore Air Force."

According to him, all 31 members of this year's graduating class have applied to join the RSAF and are waiting to complete their studies before embarking on a flying career in the Air Force.

Assoc Prof Koo presented two SYFC awards - Best in Flying and Best in Ground School - and six Singapore Technologies (ST) Excellence Awards - three for flying and three for ground school - to graduands who had shown outstanding skill in the respective categories.

Mr Alexander Goetze, 21, graduated with flying colours, winning both the SYFC prize for being the best in flying as well as the ST Excellence Award for outstanding skill in flight.

The Singapore citizen said: "Through my experience in SYFC, I became more interested in flying for the military. The SYFC has prepared me well towards realising my childhood dream of becoming a pilot."

The coveted PPL licence takes roughly a year to attain. Students are expected to pass numerous theory tests and complete a solo flight. Amid juggling their studies and Co-Curricular Activities, the gruelling PPL programme expects trainee pilots to complete at least three sorties every fortnight.

The SYFC is currently evaluating new trainer aircraft equipped with glass cockpits to replace the Piper Warrior aircraft that has been in service for the past 20 years.

Established in 1971, the SYFC's role is to promote interest in aviation among Singapore's youth. To date, it has conducted 239 flying courses and trained over 5,000 student pilots - with almost 800 of them attaining the PPL.