Speech by the Senior Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman at the Singapore Youth Flying Club's PPL Wings and Aviation Award Ceremony on 29th May 2018 at Singapore Youth Flying Club

MG Mervyn Tan Wei Ming, Deputy Chairman of SYFC's Board of Governors
BG Tommy Tan Ah Han, President of SYFC's Management Committee
Distinguished Guests
Principals, Parents, Teachers
Students of SYFC
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Morning.

I am very pleased to be here today to recognise and celebrate the achievement of the Private Pilot License (PPL) by 33 young graduands. I congratulate and commend each one of you on your commitment and good performance to meet the demands of the PPL programme while undergoing your studies. You heard the testimony a while ago. Also, my heartiest congratulations to your families and teachers in supporting your success.

When the Wright brothers made the first controlled, powered and sustained human flight on 17 December 1903, the sky was no longer a sanctuary only for birds. The invention of a three-axis flight control by the Wright brothers led to the evolution of manned flights for military and commercial purposes. Aviation progressed at a very rapid pace thereafter, and inevitably spread to the rest of the world.

Although aviation in Singapore started way back during the British colonial era, the opportunity for our youth to take flight only became a reality, when our first Minister for Defence, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee mooted the idea of an organisation to provide flying training for our young Singaporeans. The Junior Flying Club was established in 1971 and eventually renamed, transformed to the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) with the mission to provide the opportunity for our youths to learn flying, and through that valuable flying experience, be inspired like many of you, to serve as pilots in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Today, about a third of the pilots in the RSAF, were once SYFC students. This is an encouraging figure, and I am confident that the SYFC will continue to nurture the dreams of aspiring pilots. 

When the RSAF first started, we had only two Cessnas. This year, the RSAF celebrates its 50th anniversary. Over the five decades of commitment and dedication to safeguard Singapore's skies, the RSAF has transitioned through many changes and milestones, to transform into a formidable force today, capable of holding its own with the other air forces of the world. We now have a comprehensive fleet of aircraft and ground-based air defence systems that protect our skies 24/7. These sophisticated equipment are complemented by committed and professional servicemen and women who understand the importance of safeguarding our island against possible threats. The RSAF constantly needs young Singaporeans with the right traits such as tenacity, resilience and determination; people like you, who possess the right skill sets of having sharp situational awareness, sound technical judgement and discipline, to take on the challenge and to move the RSAF forward. The global defence landscape has evolved from guarding against conventional conflicts to one that includes guarding against peacetime threats, such as terrorism in its various forms. The need for competent leaders is now more crucial than ever. I urge all of the graduands today, to also consider how you can play an important role in safeguarding our nation. The attainment of the PPL is a strong testament of your ability and I hope that you will maintain your passion for flying, continue to hone your piloting skills and pursue your dreams with the RSAF and the aviation industry.  

I would also like to take this opportunity to commend and thank SYFC for your achievements. Since the inception in 1971, SYFC has provided flying training to over 6,600 students, and given out 1,127 PPL Wings to students from the Junior Colleges and Polytechnics. Apart from SYFC's core PPL programme, the SYFC also collaborates with the Ministry of Education in managing an active CCA programme to promote interests in aviation among our young students in secondary schools. Through flight and aeromodelling training, competitions, leadership appointments, and participation in experiential field trips, students improve their decision-making capabilities, and cultivate values such as discipline, leadership, teamwork, and fighting spirit. To date, 13,450 students from 120 secondary schools have benefitted from SYFC's CCA programme. The SYFC also partners four Polytechnics to conduct full-time flying programmes for Year 3 students as part of their industrial attachment module. More importantly, SYFC has achieved an excellent safety record, and has been accident-free for 47 years of flying operations. This is only made possible by the constant emphasis on safety by the SYFC Management, the professionalism of the flying instructors, and the commitment to excellence by the students.

So I would like to acknowledge and also thank the principals, teachers and parents for your strong support for SYFC's programmes. It is only with your dedication and close partnership that SYFC can continue to deliver and meet their core mission in promoting aviation and inculcating a strong passion for flying among our youths.

Let me once again congratulate each and every one of our young graduands on your achievements. I wish all of you success in your future endeavours and may you continue to strive for excellence in both your personal and professional developments. Congratulations again and thank you.