President Tony Tan Keng Yam Visits RSAF Pearce Detachment in Australia

President Tony Tan Keng Yam (extreme right) viewing the Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft during his visit to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Pearce Detachment in Australia.

As part of his State Visit to Australia, President Tony Tan Keng Yam visited the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Pearce Detachment at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce in Western Australia this afternoon. Hosted by the Chief of Air Force Major-General Hoo Cher Mou, President Tan toured the detachment's facilities and interacted with RSAF personnel based at the RAAF Base Pearce and their family members.

President Tan also thanked the family members for their support to the RSAF Pearce Detachment personnel.

During the visit, President Tan was accompanied by Mrs Mary Tan, Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Transport Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Members of Parliament Foo Mee Har and Alex Yam, and other senior RSAF officials.

Speaking after President Tan's visit, the Commander of Pearce Detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Koi Eng Chew said that the RSAF was honoured to host President Tan's visit to Pearce Detachment. "We are glad to have the opportunity to share with the President the training programme for our pilot trainees. The state-of-the-art flying training system that we currently employ has improved the standards of our training. We truly value the friendship and training opportunities with the RAAF. The vast airspace, good weather and proximity to training areas in Pearce have enabled us to prepare our trainees more efficiently and effectively," he said.

The RSAF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the RAAF to establish the flying training detachment at the RAAF Base Pearce in March 1993. The detachment currently operates the Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft and is home to more than 90 RSAF personnel, including pilots, air force engineers, trainees and support staff. The PC-21, with a superior aerodynamic performance and advanced avionics, allows the RSAF pilot trainees to build a strong foundation in their flying fundamentals.

Besides conducting flying training in Australia, the RSAF and the RAAF also interact regularly through professional exchanges and exercises such as Exercise Pitch Black. These extensive interactions underscore the close and long-standing defence relations between the two countries.

President Tan (second from left) interacting with RSAF personnel based at Base Pearce, Australia.