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Singapore Youth Flying Club

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Singapore Youth Flying Club
新加坡青年飞行俱乐部 (Chinese)
Kelab Penerbangan Belia Singapura (Malay)
AbbreviationSYFC
Formation1 December 1971 (1971-12-01)
TypeFlying club
Headquarters515 West Camp Road 797695
Location
Coordinates1°24′51″N 103°51′47″E / 1.4143°N 103.8630°E / 1.4143; 103.8630
Region served
Singapore
ServicesAeromodelling, flight training
Chairman
Kelvin Khong[1]
General Manager
COL (RET) Foo Yang Ge[2]
Affiliations Republic of Singapore Air Force
Websitehttps://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 Flying 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][10]

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.[11]

On 27 November 2000, Minister for Education Teo Chee Hean announced a S$16,000,000 modernisation programme funded by the Ministry of Defence.[12] On 23 June 2001, Minister of State for Defence and Information and the Arts David Lim announced the construction of a new clubhouse at its current location, and the Youth Flying Club was renamed to the Singapore Youth Flying Club.[13]

In 2002, two PAC CT/4E Airtrainers were acquired at S$900,000 each,[14] and commissioned by Minister of State for Defence Cedric Foo.[15]

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

Former fleet

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.[16]
  • 14 November 2000 – A Piper PA28, operated by a student pilot, veered off the runway in Seletar Airport and stopped on the grass. The student pilot was treated for shock at the Singapore General Hospital.[17]
  • 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. The occurrence was classified as an incident.[18]
  • 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.[19]
    Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II, 9V-BON
  • 15 July 2010 – A Piper PA28, registration 9V-BON, operated by a student pilot on a solo flight mistook a take-off clearance and performed a runway incursion in Seletar Airport. A Cessna 172, registration 9V-FCI, was taking off from the runway at the same time, and stopped about 100 metres (330 ft) from the PA28 after having its takeoff clearance cancelled. This occurrence was classified as an incident.[20]
  • 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. The occurrence was classified as a serious incident.[21]

Notable alumni

Membership

Chairmen

Presidents

General managers


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. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. 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. Tan, Judith (21 February 1989). "Cool brain and hot hands make a pilot". The Straits Times. p. 34. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  11. Nathan, Dominic (12 November 1989). "Chance for more youngsters to fly as club gets 12 new planes". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. Hee, Jack (29 November 2000). "Dream to fly comes true for teenager". The Straits Times. p. 15. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Factiva stimes0020010817dwbt00iwi. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. 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.
  14. "Youth Flying Club tightens security and screens learner pilots". CNA. 5 November 2002. Factiva cnewas0020021106dyb5000xx.
  15. Goh, Chin Lian (20 September 2003). "A flying head start for RSAF pilot wannabes". The Straits Times. p. 15. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  16. Tan, Yong Meng (2 September 1995). "Youth Flying Club grounds its fleet of aircraft". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 13 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  17. "Teen pilot in Seletar plane accident". Today. 15 November 2000. p. 1. OCLC 46474542. Retrieved 11 June 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  18. "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  19. Kaur, Karamjit; Sua, Tracy (31 October 2007). "Seletar runway shut for 2 hours due to training mishap". The Straits Times. p. 31. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 25 September 2024 – via NewspaperSG.
  20. "PIPER 28A, REGISTRATION 9V-BON RUNWAY INCURSION SINGAPORE SELETAR AIRPORT 15 JULY 2010" (PDF). Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  21. "DA 40, REGISTRATION 9V-YFM RUNWAY EXCURSION FINAL REPORT" (PDF). Ministry of Transport. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  22. "Contributions of Women in the RSAF" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  23. "She earned her SAF wings, and now she's top in class too". The Straits Times. 19 September 1997. p. 58. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Factiva stimes0020011003dt9j005ws. Retrieved 1 June 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  24. Fang, Joyce (21 November 1998). "3 Mindef volunteers honoured". The Straits Times. p. 67. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  25. "Take Off" (PDF). Singapore Youth Flying Club. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  26. "Take Off" (PDF). Singapore Youth Flying Club. October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  27. Nadarajan, Ben (13 December 2000). "Down memory lane with pioneer officers". The Straits Times. p. 8. ISSN 0585-3923. OCLC 8572659. Factiva stimes0020010817dwcd00kx0. Retrieved 10 June 2026 – via NewspaperSG.
  28. "About Us". WingsAcademy.sg. Archived from the original on 24 December 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2026.