From outdoor instructor to flight instructor

My job-hunting experience was as adventurous as my 6 months of travel.

I began my full time job as a job seeker in mid June. Back then I was very sure I wanted to get a job as an outdoor instructor in an international organization Outward Bound. And so I waited for Outward Bound Singapore to commerce their next round of recruitment. From my observation in 2006, there is 3-4 intakes in a year. I thought the longest period I will have to wait would be 4 months. I check their career page on their website every other day.

Some time in late June, I picked up an ad in the Classified section of the Straits Times. (SIA recruitment is ongoing now) SIA is recruiting cadet-pilot. They are offering a full sponsorship to train candidates to become professional commercial pilot. The training phase would be from 18 to 21 months, thereafter candidate who survived all the training will be offer a 7 years contract with SIA, possibly the most awarded airline in the world.

My boyhood dream of flying resurfaced. Sometime in my teens, I aspire to be a pilot especially those macho fighter pilot. I don’t think I told everyone about my dreams, as I was quite discreet about it.

At 17, I enroll into Singapore Poly. At that time, RSAF is recruiting candidates for a wide range of vocation. RSAF is particularly interested in recruiting diploma holders. They offer sponsorship scheme that I eventually took up. I signed the 10 years bond with RSAF (3 years of study, 7 years of work) because I want to be financially independent. But besides the conventional (and genuine) reasons for taking up the 10 years bond, I secretly thought that by getting myself closer to the aircraft, it’ll increase my chances of flying. Hmm, yes I did fly many times (at least 30???) and on many types of aircraft (Chinook, SP, C130) but not in the cockpit, rather in the cabin as a passenger. Also as a Radio and Communication Specialist, I spent many hours sitting in the cockpit, diagnosing radio and navigation related problems. To be able to sit in a cockpit is close enough for a lot of flying enthusiast but that was it, I still couldn’t get to fly it.

Well, back then I was not so resourceful, I have no idea what it takes and how to embark on the journey to be a pilot. But in the second or third year with the Airforce, I applied with RSAF to be a pilot and was ask to the Airforce recruitment centre for the computerize test. That was an exciting time. I felt I drawing closer to my dream. My hopes and dreams felt as fresh as a newly bloomed rose.

After the computerize test, I had to undergo a medical check at the Aviation Medical Centre. Some time later, I receive a letter from the recruitment centre.

“We regret to inform you that your application for the vocation of pilot is UNSUCCESSFUL”

Dark clouds covered the sky. “That was it”, I thought. My dreams were dashed.

All these years, has my dream of flying died? No really, I think I just shelved it somewhere at the back of my heart. Man are quite good at compartmentalizing their thoughts and emotions. And that’s what I did.

Because of that ad from SIA, I embark on a journey to research on the routes to be a pilot. Those who have figured this out might scoff at my slowness. But for me, I think it’s never to late to learn. We never stop learning till the day we stopped breathing.

Basically, there are 3 route to be a pilot.

1) Military (RSAF)

2) Full sponsorship

3) Self sponsorship.

In the context of Singapore, SIA is currently the only route to get a full sponsorship. Other airlines like Qantas, Cathay, Emirates, Indian Air, all offer cadet-pilot sponsorship program for their own citizens only.

That leaves me with the 3rd choice. There are flight schools in Australia, Europe and America and I chose America. And for weeks, I googled as much info as I could from the internet. To get a CPL (commercial pilot licence) in USA, the cost is around USD70,000 (SGD105,000). That is solely the course fee only.

July 2007

My sister picked up a Classified Ad. This time, a Canadian based company is offering sponsorship for professional pilot with job opportunity. IN essence, the company would pay for most of my course fee (minus accommodation, air fare etc). After 1 year of training (max) I would be bond with them for 2 years, working as a flight instructor. That 2 years of flying is very crucial for me. Major and regional airline requirement for entry level pilot is to have an experience of 1,500 flying hours to even consider them. However, there seems to be a trend of regional airline taking in pilots with lesser flying experience. At the moment, the prospect of a pilot seems bright.

With the flying hours I acquire over the 2 years as a flight instructor, I would be marketable to major airline and regional airline as well (Tiger, Jetstar). Actually, being a flight instructor doesn’t always have to be only a short term career as most see it as “building time”. If you like instructing so much, you can do it long term.

I am not sure if I’ll certainly change platform to a major or regional airline in the future. I might like the life of a flight instructor in Canada so much that I decide to stay there for good. Having said that, I am not implying that I will do that definite. I’m just saying that I’m aware of the possibility and I am keeping that option open.

Departure

I’ve purchased my 1-way ticket to Vancouver. I’m leaving on the first week of Dec 2007, right after the SC Marathon