Becoming Who I Needed to See

After seven years of training, setbacks, uncertainty, starting over, and wondering when—or if—my turn would come, I can finally write this sentence:

Hello! My name is Sarah. I’m 29 years old, and in August 2026, I achieved my dream of becoming a First Officer on the B787 fleet.

Checking out as B787 First Officer

Looking back, I realise becoming a pilot was never just about learning to fly. It was about learning to keep going when life didn’t follow the flight plan I’d imagined.

My passion for aviation was sparked by my parents. Free flight tickets and the chance to fly (when flying was considered a luxury back then) captivated me as a child. The idea of becoming a pilot fascinated me, but for a long time, it felt like a distant dream.

Plot twist: She actually became a pilot (far left)

Everything was against the odds: female, Malay, diploma holder. There weren’t many people who looked like me in the cockpit. There was no one I could point to and say, “I want to be sitting in the cockpit like her, and if she can do it, maybe I can too.” Perhaps that was also what made me want it more.

Right after polytechnic in 2017, I applied for cadetships with several airlines. When those applications were unsuccessful, I searched for other options and ultimately decided to obtain my own Commercial Pilot License (CPL). That setback became a blessing in disguise. I worked full-time at Pratt & Whitney and received the Revion Scholarship for Women. That opportunity became one of the first real steps towards turning my dream into something tangible.

I juggled shift work, a full-time job, and night classes. Balancing work and study wasn’t easy; there were long days, sacrifices, and moments of exhaustion. But Revion gave me the foundation I needed for what was ahead. More importantly, it placed me among people who shared my dream. The expectations set by Youhao were demanding and uncompromising; anyone who didn’t meet them was let go. Over time, two of my coursemates were let go, one after another.

After completing ground school, I left Singapore for New Zealand to begin my flight training with L3 Harris. It was a huge step for me, as I had left the familiarity of home and travelled overseas to pursue something I had dreamed about for years.

Leaving home with absolutely no idea what was coming. Me and my lovely grandparents

My original aviation influencer - Dad

My biggest supporter - Mom

There’s something unforgettable about the start of flight training.

You spend years imagining what it would be like to sit in that seat, and suddenly you are there, learning to control an aircraft, making mistakes, improving, and slowly building the skills required to become a professional pilot.

At the time, I thought I knew how my journey would unfold: complete my training, graduate, get my licence, and apply to an airline. But I never got the chance to finish my training in New Zealand. COVID-19 changed everything. When the pandemic hit, I returned to Singapore.

Initially, I believed it would only be a temporary interruption. I thought I would wait for the situation to improve, return to New Zealand, and continue from where I had left off.

But the world shut down, and borders stayed closed. Weeks became months. Months became years. Then, another blow: L3’s New Zealand training operation ceased permanently. The place where I began my flight training was no longer somewhere I could return to. I was left in Singapore, with unfinished training and no idea when or where I would fly again.

That period tested me in ways I had never expected when I first decided to become a pilot. It was difficult watching aviation come to an almost standstill, knowing I had invested so much in a future that suddenly felt uncertain. But while my journey towards the cockpit was temporarily on hold, life gave me another responsibility.

For the next two years, I worked as a frontliner in Singapore during the pandemic, forging new relationships within the aviation industry. It was far removed from the cockpit I’d imagined, but those years taught me lessons aviation training never could: patience, humility, adaptability, and resilience.

There were times when I wondered how long I would have to wait, but one thing remained unchanged:

Even when my dream was on hold, I still wanted to fly.

When borders finally reopened, I went to Adelaide and continued my flight training with Flight Training Adelaide (FTA).

No doubt the best seat in the house

Low level flying along the coast of Semaphore beach

Returning to training after such a long break wasn’t easy. I had to regain momentum, rebuild my confidence, and adapt to a new training environment. I had to remind myself of things I once knew, learn new ones, and accept that my journey would look very different from what I’d planned.

Crossed interstate? Checked. Crossed our FDP limit? Almost. Phew.

Trauma-bonded by check rides along the way

There were demanding days. Some flights did not go as well as I wanted. There were exams, checks, briefs and debriefs. There were moments of frustration and moments of self-doubt.

More engines, more fun (and a few more checklists)

Different journeys, yet somehow we all survived flying school

There were also moments when everything came together—the satisfaction of mastering something I once struggled with, the confidence that grew with every flight, and the quiet realisation that I was finally moving forward again. Every milestone carried a little more meaning because I knew how easily I could have walked away during those years of uncertainty.

Upside down and suddenly Im feeling Maverick. "Talk to me, Goose"

In May 2024, I finally graduated with a Diploma in Aviation and my Commercial Pilot Licence with Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (CPL MEIR). It wasn’t just a qualification; it represented all the years that came before. The training I couldn’t finish in New Zealand. The pandemic. The closed borders. The years spent waiting. The closure of my original flight school. And finally, the courage to begin again somewhere else. I’d made it, except for one thing: landing a job with an airline.

After graduating, I applied for the Direct Entry Second Officer (DESO) position. Applying to airlines was intimidating; the competition was fierce. Through rounds of interviews and simulation assessments, I got in.

In June 2025, I began my training as a Second Officer. Suddenly, the dream that had survived all those years of uncertainty had become real.

Airline training challenged me in a completely different way. Becoming an airline pilot is not simply about knowing how to fly an aircraft. This time you are working in a Multi-Crew environment. You learn about standards, procedures, discipline, teamwork, decision-making, and the enormous responsibility that comes with operating commercially together with the guy on the left side.

Like flight training, airline training was demanding. This time, even more so. There were difficult days and lessons that humbled me. Moments when I questioned myself, and moments when I knew I needed to become better. Whenever things got tough, I looked back at everything it took just to reach that point, and kept learning, improving, and showing up. I wasn’t going to give up then, and I won’t give up in the future.

From "One Day" to Day One

Eventually, I completed my Line Training and was promoted to First Officer. I finally found my way to the flight deck as a fully operational crew member. The girl who once wondered if someone like her could make it into an airline cockpit is now sitting in one, flying for her dream airline.

New stripe unlocked. Grandpa’s finishing touch.

The real MVPs - My 2 sisters who celebrated the finish line with me

Looking back, I know I’ve come a long way. If present-day Sarah could meet younger Sarah, she’d tell her how proud she is, that even without knowing what was ahead, she kept going.

And I certainly did not do it alone.

I am grateful to the instructors, mentors, coursemates, colleagues, family and friends who supported me throughout the different chapters of this journey. Every person who taught me, encouraged me, corrected me, believed in me, or reminded me to keep going played a vital role in getting me here.

None of this would have started without the Revion Scholarship for Women in 2019. For that, I’ll always be grateful to Revion and Youhao for giving me the opportunity to kickstart my dream.

The dream I once chased is now taking me around the world

To all the girls who want to become pilots, who look at the aviation industry and wonder if there’s a place for someone like them, I hope my story gives you an answer.

"You don’t need the perfect background. Your journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. You have your own story to tell. Some will progress faster than you. There will be setbacks beyond your control. You might fail, you might have to repeat something, and you might watch your friends move ahead while you stand still. Don’t give up."

"Ask questions. Study hard and smart. Accept your mistakes and learn from them. Stay humble enough to be taught, and resilient enough to try again. Most importantly, don’t reject yourself before someone else even has the chance to say yes."

Today, when I put on my uniform and walk towards an aircraft, I sometimes think about the younger version of myself—the girl who simply wanted to fly.

"One day, you’ll sit in that flight deck, look out of the window, and realise that the dream you refused to let go of has finally become your life. It was absolutely worth the dedication, effort, and wait."