How a Jump Seat Changed My Life

The Moment Everything Changed

Ever found yourself somewhere unexpected, like the cockpit of an aeroplane, and in that moment felt your whole life pivot? That was me.

Hi! I'm Justin. At the time of writing, I’m a First Officer on the Boeing 787. I never set out to become a pilot, but the first time I sat in a cockpit, something inside me clicked.

Checkout complete: destination Bangkok

Layover in Beijing (PEK)

It all started when I was serving in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as a System Specialist. One day, I got the chance to ride on a Fokker-50. Just before we landed, the pilots invited me into the cockpit to sit in the jump seat for arrival. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I was in.

Where it all began—serving in the SAF, never expecting one flight would change everything

Hooked for Life

Inside the cockpit, two pilots greeted me. One flew for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the other was a National Serviceman. The view out the windows, the maze of instruments, the hum of activity- every bit of it was new to me. As they talked me through the controls, I was hooked. My eyes scanned every switch and dial, hungry to understand how it all worked. By the time we touched down, I knew I’d caught the aviation bug.

Jumping In with Both Feet

Soon after, I left the SAF to chase my dream. I had no connections in aviation. No friends in the field. No family, not even a distant relative who flew. When I first applied to the SIA cadet pilot programme, I was turned down. That didn’t surprise me. I started reading everything I could find online. Then I tried for the Scoot cadet pilot programme, but I didn’t make it past the group assessment.

While I waited to reapply, I found a job to cover my bills and spent every spare moment reading up on aviation. During the Scoot group assessment, I met a few people who told me about Revion Ground School. That got me thinking. Reading and dreaming weren’t enough. I wanted to fly for real. I set my sights on getting my Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). The timing felt right. Airbus and Boeing were both predicting a pilot shortage. I looked at all my options, weighed the pros and cons, and decided to go with Revion.

Coursemates turning questions into answers

While I was still doing ground school with Revion, I tried again for the SIA and Scoot cadet programmes but faced more rejections. I didn’t let this stop me. Instead, I redoubled my training efforts. Revion was partnered with L3 Harris in New Zealand at the time, and the course was more affordable than the one at Singapore Flying College. Revion had a good reputation in the industry. During my time there, I trained alongside Jetstar Asia cadets and aspiring pilots from many backgrounds, all sharing the same determination to succeed.

Where the Real Lessons Began

Ground school was demanding. I came in with no aviation background, but our instructor Youhao didn’t just hand us thick books and wish us luck. He worked hard to break things down, explaining the complicated parts in plain English so we could actually get it. He organised visits to Airbus Asia Training Centre, the Singapore Met Office, and Seletar Tower to bring our learning to life. After more than five months, we completed all 14 ATPL papers and were finally ready to fly.

Stepping inside the A380 simulator at AATC

Graduation dinner—celebrating how far we’ve come

Showing our gratitude with a token of appreciation to Revion

A few months later, I packed my bags for New Zealand. I’d never been so far from home, or away for so long. This wasn’t a holiday. I was there to make every flight count and avoid any costly remedial flights.

Accommodation at L3

There were days I thought about giving up. I felt sick during my first few flights, and the doubts hit hard. I wondered if flying was really for me. But I kept showing up, lesson after lesson. Slowly, my body adjusted and my confidence grew, one small win at a time.

Returned from my first solo flight to smiles and support from my coursemates (me inside the aircraft)

First solo dunk

During school breaks, a few of us would take short trips together. Those adventures turned classmates into friends, and friends into the close-knit Revion alumni family. Looking back, those bonds made all the difference.

Snorkelling at Coromandel

Taupo trip—good times and great views

A snowy day at Mt Ruapehu

Summer adventures on the water

Weathering the Storm

Training wasn’t always smooth sailing. When COVID-19 hit and the world shut down, aviation came to a standstill. New Zealand closed its borders, and as cadets, we faced a choice: go home and put our dreams on hold, or stay and ride out the uncertainty. I decided to stay. For two months, we were grounded, not knowing what would happen next. I trained alongside other cadets from all walks of life, each of us fighting for a shot and refusing to give up.

One of the many get-together nights at L3

One of the moments I’ll never forget was our cross-country flight as cadets. My course mates and I planned to take off one after another, all flying the same route under marginal VFR conditions. We spent hours checking weather reports and going over our plans with the instructors. When we finally got the green light, the excitement was real. We were ready to fly.

First stop: Kerikeri (NZKK)

Second stop: Whangarei (NZWR)

Flight training lasted a year and two months, including a long lockdown. We started on the Diamond DA20, learning the basics of visual flight rules with analogue “Six packs.” Later, we moved to the Cessna 172 with Garmin 1000 for single-engine instrument flying. I earned my Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) on the Diamond DA42, then finished with my Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR) on the same aircraft.

The golden handshake—one I’ll never forget

Marking National Day while in New Zealand

Back home, I took a job managing vaccination sites for the Ministry of Health. With flying paused and hiring frozen, it was one of the few roles available.

In the meantime, I kept saving and learning. I built a flight simulator set-up at home and spent hours practising. When restrictions finally eased, I jumped at the first chance to get back in the air in Singapore.

Flying off to Phuket with stops in Subang and Hat Yai

Getting Knocked Down

Three years went by before my first real opportunity appeared. A local airline opened up a Direct Entry Second Officer (DESO) intake, but they were only looking for ten pilots. The competition was brutal. Years without pilot recruitment meant a flood of CPL graduates all chasing the same few spots. This time, I made it all the way to the final interview. Only ten were selected, and my name wasn’t on the list. It was another setback, but I wasn’t ready to give up.

When moments like this hit, I let myself feel the disappointment, but I tried to focus on how far I’d come rather than only on what I hadn’t achieved. I talked with course mates and alumni who understood the journey, set small goals to keep moving forward, and reminded myself why I started in the first place. Sticking to a routine and focusing on what I could control made a real difference. Little by little, these habits helped me stay motivated, even when the road ahead looked uncertain.

Seeking wisdom from my seniors

Standing Up Again

Devastated but not defeated, I got ready for what felt like my last shot when another local airline started hiring. This time, I made it through the interview and the simulator assessment. Even after passing the medical, I had to wait a year before starting the next phase. That included Multi Crew Cooperation (MCC), type rating, and finally, line flying.

Revionites did it—through the DESO intake and onto the next chapter

Training was brutal. It was even tougher than the ATPL exams and everything I’d faced at flight school. Luckily, seniors who had gone before us shared what to expect. My three course mates and I stuck together, pushing each other, putting in the hours, and refusing to quit. In the end, we made it. We earned our stripes as First Officers.

With my DESO batchmates—proud to be on this journey together

What Really Made the Difference

Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. The training was tough. If you didn’t make the cut, you were out. What set me up for airline training was the quality of the instruction. I walked away not just knowing how to fly, but with the discipline, professionalism, habits, and mindset that made all the difference. Just as important was the close bond I found in the alumni family. That support over the years helped me grow from someone with no aviation background into a pilot ready for the industry.

Revion’s 10th anniversary yacht party—good times with great people

For the Next Dreamer

If you’re thinking about this path, I can say Revion played a real part in my journey. They provided my ground school and gave me the foundation I needed, but what mattered even more was how they pushed me out of my comfort zone and welcomed me into an alumni family that truly wants to see everyone grow.

The alumni family isn’t just a list of names. It’s a group of people who genuinely look out for each other. I’ve seen it firsthand. Sometimes it’s advice, sometimes encouragement, and often just having a place to talk about everything under the sun. The support is there from day one, and you’ll always find someone ready to help you along.

"So if you’re sitting there wondering if you could really make this work, I hope my story helps. I started with nothing and made it all the way to the cockpit. It isn’t easy, but it’s possible. You just need to take that first step and keep going, even when it feels tough."