Sunday, February 10, 2013

Aircraft Disaster

The air crash of Silkair 185 happened more than 20 years ago but that event is still fresh on my mind.  I suppose it's because when an air crash is alleged to have been caused by the deliberate and suicidal act of a pilot, it puts the crash in the same category as the tragic September 11 event.


An Air Craft Investigations documentary on the fateful Silkair 185 flight
Taken from youtube.


Any air crash is one crash too many.  There are many questions in my head for which I need answers before I take another Silkair or SIA flight.

Everyone knows Singapore has a compulsory enlistment of 18-year-olds and some of them are required to serve in the Singapore Air Force.  Some are trained as pilots and so, there is always a ready supply of Air Force pilots in this small island state.  What I would like to know is how many of these ex-Air Force pilots fly commercial planes whether as permanent or temporary staff.  What are the airlines in Singapore that use one or more of these former military pilots to fly their planes? 

I fear these are questions which will remain unanswered.  No airline would be willing to reveal such information especially if they do use former military pilots.  What about the budget airlines?   I would expect these pilots do come cheap and they may be up for grabs by budget airlines.

Surely airline passengers are entitled to this information?  After all, it's our lives that are at stake here and we should be in the position to make an informed decision on which airlines we may fly and which to boycott.

2 comments:

  1. I don't think it works that way at all. It's probably the reverse. I think a very large proportion of pilots are ex-military.

    And as for NS men, I don't think there are any who are conscripted and put through pilot training. Pilot training first requires them to sign-on to the Air Force.

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