Growing interest in aviation industry in schools

At Hillgrove Secondary School, aerospace is not just a specialty for a few - every student has a chance to experience what the sector has to offer, be it through instructional programmes, co-curricular activities (CCAs), or learning journeys to aviation centres and training centres to experience the industry first-hand.

And the school - which received special mention by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally last month for developing aerospace as its niche - has seen its efforts take off.

Since 2007, 43 graduates have gone on to pursue aviation courses at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic and the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs).

Nine went on to take the Basic Flying Course and obtained their Private Pilot Licence with the Singapore Youth Flying Club, while one, Mr Aditya Sharma, is now an RSAF Apache helicopter pilot.

The school's endeavour is part of the wave of growing interest in the aerospace and aviation industry. In July this year, a new scheme to support the setting up of key laboratories by industries in local universities was launched by the National Research Foundation.

The programme is set up by aerospace company Rolls-Royce and Nanyang Technological University, and will focus on three core research areas: Electrical power and control systems, manufacturing and repair technologies, and computational engineering.

Polytechnics, ITEs, universities and industry partners said they have generally seen an increase in applicants for places in aviation and aerospace courses. Out of 10 organisations contacted, seven said intakes have increased. For example, Temasek Polytechnic, which offers a Diploma in Aerospace Engineering, has seen its intake more than double since it rolled out the programme in 2009.

Northbrooks Secondary School, which has also developed aerospace as a niche, has weaved the industry into its curriculum for all Secondary One, Two and Three Express and Normal (Academic) students.

At the Sec 1 level, students acquire basic knowledge in general aerospace topics, such as the discovery of flight and early flight machines, basic aerodynamics of flight and flight control surfaces, as part of the semester's interdisciplinary project work. The school also has Youth Flying Club as a CCA to cater to students with interest and talent in the area.

At Hillgrove, the theories and principles of flight, aero-modelling and kite-making and flying are part of Design and Technology lessons, which is customised and funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) Aviation Youth Outreach Seed Fund. Sec 2 students learn about flight and aerospace in Science, Mathematics and Social Studies through project work.

The school is currently collaborating with SP and the Education Ministry's Educational Technological Division to further develop flight and aerospace lessons and resources. At the lower secondary level, students will be introduced to elementary science and maths concepts such as speed and area, so they can construct and fly airplane models.

Upper secondary students will learn how to apply physics and mathematical concepts to construct simulations in rocket science. For example, Sec 3 students will apply aero-engineering concepts such as vectors and acceleration to construct computer simulations in the different phases of a rocket's flight.

The school has also offered Youth Flying Club as a CCA since 2001, and the club now has 60 members who get to learn how to fly an aeroplane through a flight simulation programme.

Sec 3 student Iqbal Rosli, 15, a member of the club, said he hopes to be a pilot in future. He participated in the Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition this year with two other team-mates, and clinched Silver in the Theory of Flight category.

"We learnt a lot in YFC (Youth Flying Club), like the different parts of a plane and how to fly a remote-controlled aeroplane. I learnt a lot and it helps me (in my path) to be a pilot in future," he said.

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