Singapore Youth Flying Club

Singapore Youth Flying Club

新加坡青年飞行俱乐部 (Chinese) Kelab Penerbangan Belia Singapura (Malay)
Abbreviation	SYFC
Formation	1 December 1971;53 years ago (1971-12-01)
Type	Flying club
Headquarters	515 West Camp Road 797695
Location	Singapore
Coordinates	1°24′51″N103°51′47″E / 1.4143°N 103.8630°E / 1.4143; 103.8630
Region	Singapore
Services	Aeromodelling, flight training
Chairman	Kelvin Khong [1]
General Manager	COL (RET) Foo Yang Ge [2]
Affiliations	Republic of Singapore Air Force
Website	https://www.syfc.sg/
Formerly called	Youth Flying Club Junior Flying Club

The Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) is a flight school based in Seletar Airport, primarily funded by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). ^{[3] [4]} Established in 1971, the club aims to introduce and promote aviation to students, by providing aeromodelling courses for secondary school students and flight training courses for pre-tertiary students, and encourage trained pilots to serve in the RSAF. ^{[5] [6]}

As of 2023, more than 7,500 students have been through the flight training programme, with over 1,200 students graduating with a private pilot licence (PPL), 80% of whom move on to become RSAF pilots. ^{[5] [7]}

History

Recognising the need to maintain a steady stream of pilots for the RSAF, the Junior Fying Club was established by Minister for Defence Goh Keng Swee in December 1971 to offer free flight training to youths in Singapore, with the initial fleet consisting of eight Cessna 172s and six AESL Airtourers. ^[8]

On 5 March 1988, Minister for Education Tony Tan announced the renaming of Junior Flying Club to Youth Flying Club, aligning the club's intent of developing youth pilots in Singapore. ^[9]

On 12 November 1989, Minister for Communications and Second Minister for Defence (Policy) Yeo Ning Hong announced the acquisition of 12 Piper Warrior IIs to replace the initial fleet, at a cost of S$2 million. ^[10]

On 23 June 2001, Minister of State for Defence and Information and the Arts David Lim announced the construction of a S$16 million new clubhouse at its current location, and the Youth Flying Club was renamed to the Singapore Youth Flying Club. ^[11]

In 2002, two PAC CT/4E Airtrainers were acquired and commissioned by Minister of State for Defence Cedric Foo. ^[12]

In 2010, to replace the ageing fleet, 13 Diamond DA40s were purchased at a cost of US$3.4 million in total. ^[3]

Fleet

Current fleet

Singapore Youth Flying Club fleet

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Passengers	Notes
Diamond DA40	13 [3]	—	3
Total	13	0

Former fleet

Singapore Youth Flying Club former fleet

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Replacement	Notes
PAC CT/4E Airtrainers	2	2002	2010	Diamond DA40
Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II	12 [10]	1989	2010
AESL AT-6 Airtourers	6 [8]	1971	1989	Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II	Transferred from Republic of Singapore Air Force
Cessna 172	8 [1]	1971	1989

Accidents and incidents

• 1 September 1995 – The fleet of Piper Warrior IIs were grounded for a month as the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore withdrew the maintenance approval of the club's appointed maintenance company. ^[13]
• 23 March 2006 – A Piper PA28, registration 9V-BOE, operated by a student pilot on his first solo flight collided with a parked van in Seletar Airport. The pilot made a premature turn into a wrong parking bay, where there was a parked aircraft and van, and attempted to correct the situation by taxiing between the parked aircraft and van. While successfully avoiding collision with the parked aircraft, the pilot did not look on his left, leading to an impact with the parked van and the left wing of his aircraft. No injuries were reported. ^[14]
• 30 October 2007 – A Piper PA28, registration 9V-BOH, operated by a student pilot on a solo flight veered off the runway in Seletar Airport, causing the sole runway at the airport to be closed for about two hours. No injuries were reported. ^[15]
• 11 August 2013 – A Diamond DA40, registration 9V-YFM, operated by a student pilot on a solo flight veered off the runway in Seletar Airport upon landing, leading to an impact between a taxiway signboard and the aircraft. No injuries were reported. ^[16]

Notable alumni

• Ng Chee Meng – former Chief of Air Force and Chief of Defence Force ^[8]
• Kelvin Khong – former Chief of Air Force ^[8]

Bibliography

• Cheong, Colin (2006). Flying Colours: Singapore Youth Flying Club. Singapore: SNP Editions. ISBN   978-9-8124-8111-5.

References

1. Mohamed, Zaqy (27 May 2023). "Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Zaqy Mohamad for Singapore Youth Flying Club Private Pilot Licence Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony on 27 May 2023". MINDEF. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
2. "Changi Exhibition Centre showcases smart nation capabilities as it hosts Covid-19 patients". Today (website). Retrieved 13 September 2024.
3. Kaur, Karamjit (3 April 2010). "Youth flying club getting new fleet of trainers". asiaone.com. AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
4. Lim, Desmond (14 July 2016). "Young high fliers". The Straits Times . Retrieved 25 September 2024.
5. Mohamed, Zaqy (10 September 2022). "Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower, Mr Zaqy Mohamad for Singapore Youth Flying Club Private Pilot Licence Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony". MINDEF. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
6. Goh, Keng Swee (9 March 1975). "Speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Dr. Goh Keng Swee, at the Presentation of Private Pilots Licences to Members of the Junior Flying Club at Sembawang Air Base on Sunday, March 9, 1975 at 11 A.M." (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2024.
7. Osman, Mohamad Maliki (7 May 2016). "Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, at the Singapore Youth Flying Club's (SYFC) Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) Wings and Aviation Awards Presentation Ceremony". MINDEF. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
8. Gan, Siow Huang (23 October 2021). "Speech by Minister of State for Education Ms Gan Siow Huang at the Singapore Youth Flying Club Golden Jubilee - Private Pilot Licence Wings & Aviation Awards Ceremony". MOE. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
9. Tan, Tony (5 March 1988). "Speech by Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Minister for Education, at the Junior Flying Club (JFC) Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) Presentation held at the Temasek Club on Saturday, 5 March 1988 at 11 A.M." (PDF). Retrieved 13 September 2024.
10. Nathan, Dominic (12 November 1989). "Chance for more youngsters to fly as club gets 12 new planes". The Straits Times . Retrieved 13 September 2024.
11. Lim, David (23 June 2001). "Speech by Minister of State David T E Lim, at the Singapore Youth Flying Club Ground Breaking Ceremony, 23 June 2001, 10am". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
12. Goh, Chin Lian (20 September 2003). "A flying head start for RSAF pilot wannabes". The Straits Times . p. 15. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
13. Tan, Yong Meng (2 September 1995). "Youth Flying Club grounds its fleet of aircraft". The Straits Times . Retrieved 13 September 2024.
14. "GROUND COLLISION BETWEEN A PIPER PA28 AIRCRAFT, REGISTRATION 9V-BOE AND A VAN IN SELETAR AIRPORT, SINGAPORE ON 23 MARCH 2006" (PDF). Ministry of Transport . 4 July 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
15. Kaur, Karamjit; Sua, Tracy (31 October 2007). "Seletar runway shut for 2 hours due to training mishap". The Straits Times . p. 31. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
16. "DA 40, REGISTRATION 9V-YFM RUNWAY EXCURSION FINAL REPORT" (PDF). Ministry of Transport . 28 April 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2024.

External links

• Singapore Youth Flying Club