Airport

The Office Boy Who Became An AirAsia Pilot…!

After 9 years and 11 failed attempts Kugan Tangiisuran, 31 is now able to smile after flying the Airbus A320 to more than 10 destinations around the world with 700 of flight hours under his wing.

The inspirational story of Kugan who joined Air Asia as an office boy and has become a first officer August last year has moved even the CEO and Director of Air Asia Berhad Tan Sri Tony Fernandes to tears. It is a dream he harboured since he was young while watching planes land and takeoff from relatively close range at the Penang International Airport. reported by CJMY

Hailing from Perai in Penang, Kugan had aspired to become a pilot since he was eight. However, it wasn’t going to be an easy ride. After Kugan finished school, he couldn’t study to become a pilot as the courses were too expensive for his middle-class family.

“I ended up studying in the hospitality management field and worked in various hotels in Penang for several years,” Kugan was quoted as saying my FMT.

The inspirational story of Kugan who joined Air Asia as an office boy and has become a first officer August last year

“Then, one day, a friend who worked with AirAsia told me to join the company. He said it gave opportunities to its staff to move between departments,” said Kugan, following which he applied for a job with the airline and was offered the position of despatch boy.Kugan, who wasn’t put off by the offer, saw the post of an office boy as a stepping stone to his childhood dream to fly and joined AirAsia in 2006.

@fmtoday | The despatch boy who became a flier https://t.co/I8naFAjjRm pic.twitter.com/lbruXwxnOp

— Aziz Laikar (@AzizLaikar) April 5, 2016

In the same year, Kugan passed the exam to become a cadet pilot However, a policy which required Kugan to have served for at least two years at his current department dashed his hopes and he wasn’t allowed to proceed further.

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It didn’t deter him. Kugan continued carrying out despatch duties and delivering letters while still keeping alive his dream of becoming a pilot one day. For the next seven years, he kept trying, sitting for exam three more times. Throughout the seven years, even after numerous failures, Kugan never gave up and applied 11 times and sat for 4 qualification examinations.

His perseverance caught the attention of none other than AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes, who personally pushed him to keep trying. Then in 2013, Kugan successfully passed all the required exams and was accepted into Asia Pacific Flight Training (APFT). He completed his training at APFT to become a co-pilot in June last year. reported by says

News courtesy : Citizen Journalists Malaysia.

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Airport

Western Sydney Airport Welcomes Its First Plane After 6 Years of construction

In a historic milestone for Australia’s aviation sector, the first plane has officially taken off and landed at Western Sydney Airport after six years of construction, much to the delight of a small but enthusiastic group of dedicated planespotters.

A test pilot made the inaugural landing using a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, successfully completing a series of take-off and landing runs on the newly built tarmac. This crucial test paves the way for larger passenger aircraft, which are expected to start using the runway in two years.

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The Piper PA-30 was employed to assess the airport’s approximately 3,000 Aeronautical Ground Lights (AGLs) by executing operations in various conditions, including daylight, dusk, and evening. This testing ensures that the lighting system is fit for purpose and ready to welcome aircraft when the airport opens to commercial flights in late 2026.

The pilot also highlighted that the rapid exit taxiways have been designed at a 45-degree angle, allowing for quicker transitions on and off the runway. Once operational, the airport will feature a single runway capable of handling up to 10 million passengers annually right from day one.

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As the construction phase nears completion, the airport’s main terminal, apron, and supporting infrastructure will be ready to accommodate around 81,000 flights each year. This milestone marks a significant moment for Western Sydney Airport, the first new airport to open in Australia since Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport more than two decades ago.

Major airlines, including Qantas and Jetstar, have already committed to operating from the 24/7 facility, signaling strong support for this new hub. By 2033, the airport aims to handle up to 10 million passengers and facilitate extensive air traffic movements annually.