Singapore Youth Flying Club
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| 新加坡青年飞行俱乐部 (Chinese) Kelab Penerbangan Belia Singapura (Malay) | |
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| Abbreviation | SYFC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1 December 1971 |
| Type | Flying club |
| Headquarters | 515 West Camp Road 797695 |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 1°24′51″N 103°51′47″E / 1.4143°N 103.8630°E |
Region served | 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]
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]
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
| Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond DA40 | 13[3] | — | 3 | |||
| Total | 13 | 0 | ||||
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]
