Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

Distinguished guests, principals, teachers, parents, students, ladies and gentlemen.

From today, the Youth Flying Club will be known as the Singapore Youth Flying Club. This is a small but significant change.

The Club was set up 30 years ago as the Junior Flying Club, and then renamed the Youth Flying Club in 1990. The new name it takes on today signifies the intention of the Club to step up both its activities and its ambitions.

Over the next few years, the SYFC will undergo a modernization program that would cost about $16 million dollars. A new clubhouse, the first purpose built facility for the SYFC, will be built here on this spot. (Unveil clubhouse model). It will house a flight simulator for a new class of aerobatic aircraft that the club will be purchasing to replace its current fleet of Piper Warriors. It will also house a state-of-the-art Ground-School that will offer CAI courses. And it will provide maintenance facilities for the fleet of trainer aircraft. Altogether, these will add up to 6,000 sq metres of space on three hectares of land. Construction of the new clubhouse begins today, and will be completed by the end of next year.

In addition to its staple program of new pilots for their Private Pilot�s Licence, the SYFC also does other things. As your President has mentioned earlier, the SYFC has launched a new program at the beginning of this year to attract secondary school students to develop an interest in aviation. Working with the Ministry of Education, this new co-curricular activity is now offered at five secondary schools. Each school has formed its own Youth Flying Clubs. That�s why we changed our name to SYFC. To-date, a total of 70 students have signed up for this CCA. I hope that many more schools and students will join in the years to come, and take advantage of the excellent facilities and training offered by the SYFC.

Over the years, the SYFC has contributed significantly to the pool of trained pilots in Singapore. Since its inception, more than 560 members, 562 to be exact, have earned their private pilot licences. And some 240 RSAF pilots first learned how to fly at the SYFC. Today, another 23 graduands will receive their PPLs, and of these 6 have already decided to join the RSAF. I am glad to see that and hope to see the 6 grow to even more. I am sure after looking at the model, and hearing about the plan, I am sure many will be encouraged to join. I congratulate each one of our new young pilots, and commend those who have won special prizes for doing particularly well. I also thank Singapore Technologies for sponsoring these prizes, and encouraging these budding flying aces.

Let me also commend and congratulate the SYFC for your achievements and contributions through the years. I am glad that after 30 years, you are still ambitious, still striving to achieve more. But this is what I would expect of a flying club � that you should aim to soar ever higher, and to fly ever further. I hope that this spirit will catch on with all the young people who come through the doors of your clubhouse.

And now, let me once again congratulate the Singapore Youth Flying Club on your 30th anniversary, and to break ground for your new clubhouse.