XN000022-1993-12-27 — Page 4

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1993

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BUDDING FLIERS IN THEIR PLYING MACHINES * * * * *

FOUR ASPIRING YOUNG LOCALS WHO WANT TO FLY MODERN AIRCRAFT HAVE ENTERED THE PORTALS OF HISTORY IN THE GOVERNMENT FLYING SERVICE (GFS),

THEY ARE THE FIRST FOUR LOCALLY TRAINED PILOTS QUALIFIED TO FLY ON SIKORSKY S76 HELICOPTER FOR THE SERVICE.

GETTING OFF TO A

FLYING START ARK CAPT WEST WH WU (28), CAPT KARL K T CHAN (28), CAPT MICHAEL C P CHAN (31) AND CAPT LAWRENCE CP WONG (27).

FOR THOSE YOUNGSTERS WHO LOOK UP TO THESE BUDDING FLIERS AS TOUGH GUYS IN SUN GLASSES AND BLACK LEATHER JACKETS, THEY WILL BB DISAPPOINTED.

THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL AVIATORS, ALBEIT YOUNG MEN WHO MAY BE YOUR NEIGHBOURS.

THE GFS IS LOOKING FOR INTELLIGENT, MOTIVATED AND DEDICATED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHIC HAVE EXCELLENT HEALTH, TOP-NOTCH ORDINATION, SOUND CHARACTER AND OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.

CO-

**

"BRING A CAPTAIN IN THE GFS IS NOT MERELY OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT, HE MUST BE A SYSTEMS MANAGER AS WELL AS A MANAGER OF THE CREW, CAPTAIN WEST WU, A FORMER AIRCREWMAN WITH THE SERVICE, SAID.

THE GFS WAS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN APRIL THIS YEAR ΤΟ SUCCEED THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE.

TO MEET THE EXPANSION. OF THE SERVICE AND TO TAKE OVER THE DUTIES OF THE BRITISH GARRISON AIRCRAFT WHICH ARE DUE TO LEAVE BEFORE 1997, A PILOT LOCALISATION SCHEME IS VIGOROUSLY UNDERWAY TO TRAIN OVER 20 LOCAL PILOTS FROM AN AB-INITIO TO FULL OPERATIONAL STANDARD.

IT IS PLANNED THAT THESE YOUNG MEN WOULD TAKE OVER IN STAGES FROM THE CURRENT TEAM OF OVER 20 EXPATRIATE PILOTS.

LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, GFS UPHOLDS THE MOTTO, "SEMPER PARATUS" ALWAYS READY, IMPLY ENG A READINESS TO ADAPT TO HONG KONG'S EVER CHANGING AND EXPANDING NEEDS.

WHAT IS THE MASCULINE MYSTIQUE OF FLYING? THE FOUR CAPTAINS SAY IT IS THE MAGNETIC ATTRACTION OF THE SKY.

OF

"YOU SIMPLY CANNOT DESCRIBE THE KIND OF SATISFACT (ON, THE KIND

THE SKY. ACHIEVEMENT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'VE GOT A CHANCE TO FLY IN THE JOB ITSELF IS IRRESISTIBLE, CAPTAIN MICHARL CHAN,

FORMER AIR

TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, SAID.

HIS VIEW WAS SHARED BY CAPTAIN LAWRENCE WONG, WHOSE INTEREST IN

WAS BUILT UP WHILE WORKING AS A MAINTENANCE

IN OFFICER

THE

FLYING SERVICE.

THE SERVICE OFFERS MORE TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE: THE MULTIPLE DUTIES OF AN AIRCRAFT COMMANDER.

/THE TOUGH