Sunday, February 9, 2014

Your chance to fly with the RSAF: eBallot for free flights close at 23:59 hrs tonight!

Eye in the sky: An aircrewman from the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 127 Squadron watches the six from the open ramp of an RSAF CH-47 Chinook as the heavy-lift helicopter banks over Singapore's southern islands on 8 February 2014. Public day visitors to the Singapore Airshow 2014 can join an eBallot for a chance to experience this flight.

Click here to submit your ballot. Entries close at 23:59 Hotel sharp tonight!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow, when did the Singapore government commercialised the air force....

David Boey said...

Dear Anon,
Commercial means you pay for your ride. This one is free.

This is more than a joyride. It also represents a valuable training opportunity for the RSAF tribe in planning and staging non-combatant evacuation operations.

This is because the respective pilots, aircrew, engineers, ground crew and despatchers will have to work with real civilians whose personalities, age groups, patience for queues and vulnerability to air sickness is vastly different from having SAF personnel play the part of civilians taking a military flight.

Civilian passengers unused to the no-frills, noisy and toilet-free cabin of a C-130 or Chinook may find the flight uncomfortable. Some will puke. Those disappointed with a cancelled flight (due to wx or other reasons) may voice their unhappiness on social media or directly to duty personnel. There are safety and security issues to look after too having civilians on an air base. This is the same as during a NEO.

Joyrides on RSAF fixed wing and rotary wing assets are not new, nor are they unique to our Air Force. Many others do so too.

If you would like to sit out this free eBallot, am sure the person who wins that seat will thank you for the better odds *grin*

Check Six!

Best regards,


David

Anonymous said...

Well, what is the aim of the Air Force...to let people on a joy ride..and what are the insurance coverage.....Check six...

David Boey said...

Dear Anon,
The objective of such outreach is to inform and educate people like you on what the Full Spectrum Air Force is all about.

You'd have to sign an indemnity form before boarding, just like for your Primary School excursions.

db

TheSounDOne said...

any chance of joyride during trade days?