Beneath the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilot and alumna (BBA, Class of 2016) Fiona Lee’s smiley demeanour is a steely resolve to life.
Once, to dispel her parents’ doubts that she could physically cope with military life, Fiona embarked on a 24km run without any prior training just to show them she could do it.
“I pursue my goals relentlessly once I set my mind and heart to them, which has been the case since I was young,” said Fiona.
From a young age, she would pester her parents to bring her to air shows and RSAF open houses and watch planes take off and land, as she wanted to become a pilot.
Fiona had her first experience in flying when she joined the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) during her junior college years. The SYFC is an early stepping stone to becoming a military pilot in Singapore.
“I especially love the thrill of lift-off as you elevate above the horizon. The bird’ s-eye view of the land beneath you is a breathtaking one like no other,” Fiona recalled.
However, Fiona’s pilot dream crashed when SYC phased her out for not clocking enough flying time. She was too busy with other co-curricular activities (CCAs) in floorball and orchestra.
Never give up
While Fiona had to put aside her flight dreams to concentrate on her studies, she never forgot about her dream. “The dream of taking to the skies never left me, and the desire to be back at the helm of the cockpit had always been at the back of my mind,” said Fiona.
Fiona had graduated from NUS Business School, and one year into her post as a graduate analyst at investment firm Goldman Sachs, she decided to give her first love one more try.
“My parents were apprehensive about it as they thought I should stick with a well-paying job. However, they’ve always known that I love flying, hence they relented,” Fiona said. “And I did that 24km run to show them I could due with the physical demands,” she added.
Fiona applied to become a pilot in the RSAF and was accepted. Becoming an RSAF pilot included numerous local and overseas training programmes. One of the highlights was her first solo flight while training in Australia.
Fiona after her first solo flight
“Flying gives you a sense of empowerment as you control your aircraft. This is especially true during our solo sorties when you are alone in the air,” said Fiona. It was also a huge milestone in her pilot dream as she left SYFC just before she was scheduled for her first solo flight.
“The realisation that you have no one to rely on but yourself to complete the mission, handle any contingencies that may come along, and recover safely is extremely rewarding and character-building,” said Fiona. For instance, during solo training flights, a pilot must constantly monitor air traffic and flight instruments to avoid collisions and even crashing.
However, Fiona’s biggest challenge was being away from her family and husband when she had to train in Australia for over a year. “We had just gotten married, and I had to leave after our wedding. We’ve never been apart for such a long time. He was from NUS Business School too!” recalled Fiona. She added that the emotional support from her family and husband was crucial in helping her during her training.
Meanwhile, NUS Business School has helped Fiona prepare for life in RSAF. In particular, she said the School’s networking training and sessions have helped her to be more confident and hold conversations. “It is definitely beneficial as we deal with foreign delegates frequently due to the sheer number of international exercises,” she said.
Fiona with family during her graduation ceremony
Heart work
Once Fiona had completed her training, she chose to become a pilot of the transport plane C-130 Hercules. Fiona has since done airlift flights to support overseas deployment exercises in Australia and Thailand. She decided on the transport platform because the aircraft is used in humanitarian and search-and-rescue operations, which she has loved to do since childhood.
“When I was in school, I regularly volunteered, like taking on befriending stints to assist and support the elderly. Even at SAF, I would participate in community programmes helping seniors at elderly homes and book reading for kids,” Fiona said.
As Fiona looked back at her journey, she admitted it was a unique path compared to her NUS peers. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue my dreams, even though they may be unconventional. I have learned that just because something has not been done before does not mean you cannot be the first to do it,” Fiona said.
