Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad for the Singapore Youth Flying Club's Private Pilot Licence Wings and Aviation Awards Ceremony

BG Kelvin Fan, President of SYFC Management Committee

Distinguished Guests

Principals, Parents, Teachers

Graduands and Students of SYFC

Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good morning. First of all, my heartiest congratulations to our 34 young graduands who have attained the Private Pilot Licence (PPL). It is a testament to your skill and aptitude as pilots, and your drive to excel as individuals.

Well done to all of you, for meeting the demands of this rigorous programme while balancing your studies. Your families and teachers have also played a significant role in supporting you whole-heartedly in this endeavour.

The Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) was set up in 1971 by our first Minister for Defence, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee. Why did our pioneer generation of leaders deem it important to set up SYFC then? It was not simply to encourage our youth to take up flying as a hobby. The Singapore of 1971 was a fledging nation-state, beset by many domestic challenges and competing priorities.

There was a larger objective. That was the hope that some of those who passed through these doors would be inspired to sign on with the RSAF to take up the critical mission of defending our skies.

Today, almost fifty years on, this mission of SYFC has not changed. Our need for a strong RSAF remains the same. Singapore is a small country with no strategic depth. We rely on a capable and operationally ready RSAF to overcome our geographical vulnerabilities, so that Singapore can survive and thrive.

This existential need for a strong air force is etched in our nation's history – never again shall our skies be left undefended as they were during the Japanese air raids in World War II. And if we needed a reminder that decades on from World War II, air threats remain some of the most potent and destructive threats that all countries have to confront, we need only to look at the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001.

The RSAF has grown from strength to strength over the years. Today, it is a first class Air Force, ever ready to deter aggression with courage and fortitude, and committed to defending Singapore's skies on a 24/7 basis.

Indeed, in any given year, the RSAF responds to more than 350 suspicious air threats. This requires a level of vigilance and operational readiness that has become second nature to the air force because of the hard work and dedication of our airmen and women.

But we must never take this for granted. We must, and we will, continue to invest in nurturing capable and committed airmen and women. We will equip them with advanced platforms and systems, so that they can continue to discharge the critical role of being our nation's first and fastest line of defence.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge our RSAF servicemen and women for their strong support of national efforts to combat COVID-19, even while continuing with critical air defence operations.

RSAF personnel on operational duties, for example, had to live on base apart from their families during their deployments. They did this because they understood that air threats do not go away because of COVID-19. Therefore, it is important that we stay vigilant so that those who would exploit the pandemic to test our defence will not succeed.

The SYFC has lived up to its mission, and played an integral role in promoting an interest in aviation among students and grooming the next generation of pilots for the RSAF.

To date, more than 15,000 secondary school students have participated in SYFC's CCA programme – the result of close collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

Year 3 students from a number of Polytechnics can also participate in full-time flying programmes as part of their Industrial Attachment module. The SYFC has also conducted flying courses for over 7,067 students, of which 1,195 have attained their PPL.

Today, a third of RSAF pilots, including the current Chief of Air Force Major-General Kelvin Khong, are SYFC alumni. I hope their achievements will encourage more youths to take advantage of the excellent opportunities provided by SYFC, and in doing so, be inspired to take the next step of building a career flying with the RSAF and defending our skies.

I also want to commend SYFC for maintaining an excellent safety record, and staying accident-free through 49 years of flying operations. The SYFC Management Committee's strong emphasis on safety, the professionalism of the flying instructors, and the diligence of the students have all contributed to this proud safety record.

I am also glad to see that SYFC has adapted well to the challenges posed by COVID-19 this year, finding novel ways of conducting Ground School through video conferencing, self-directed online learning, and ensuring that safety measures are adhered to during flying lessons.

Before I end, allow me to specially mention one of our graduands today, Cheri Teo. Cheri's passion for a career in aviation was inspired by her father, a former Ground-Based Air Defence officer, and her brother, a current Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot with the RSAF. Cheri is now following in their footsteps and has applied to the RSAF. I hope that Cheri and her family will inspire all of you, as well as other young Singaporeans, to join the RSAF in its mission.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge and thank the principals, teachers and parents for your strong support for SYFC's programmes. Thank you for being the wind beneath our wings, and for nurturing, and in many instances, proactively sparking an interest in aviation in our youths from a tender age.

I also extend my congratulations once more to our young graduands. Your hard work has paid off, and you are now the pilots of your own destinies. Our hearts soar with pride today as we watch each of you receive your awards. May you continue to strive for excellence in both your personal and professional developments. Thank you.