learning should be never ending and humble!!

that is basically what i told myself before the Final Interview i had with AirAsia last saturday, in the AirAsia Academy.. things were actually very messed up and i was honestly, very much nervous even the night before as i've written in the previous post.

well, on that very day itself during the interview, we, the shortlisted candidates (23 in total) were supposed to sit for 3 test, give out a presentation, as well as to attend a 3 to 1 interview with the interviewing board.. trust me, things were nowhere close to being easy and it was definitely nerve wrecking even just waiting for the results.. i was actually lucky enough to be the 3rd candidate in the list as i got to be called up earlier for the interview and allowed to leave at 5pm or so as some of the candidates at the end of the list were only able to go back at 10.30pm..

so, while waiting for my turn, i was praying so hard to God and to ask for forgiveness from my belated grandpa and to bless me so that i can successfully pass that interview.. when my turn came, i went in, greeted the interviewers then the questioning and interviewing session began.. the interviewers knew so much about the industry that they were so specific on all the candidates to know and understand how airlines and the aviation industry works..

after the interview, most of us were actually very tired and exhausted as we were all stressed out and had already given our best throughout the interviewing process.. as we were told that the results of the interview would be out on tuesday, i had a hard time trying to sleep.. i was so worried and nervous yet anxious for the results as i know very well, i wanted this very very very badly and i've been trying and wishing to get this chance to be a pilot, and to be able to join the cadet pilot programme by an airline..

so, after the long and painful wait, the results were finally announce on the following wednesday morning and i was so worried even before i opened the e-mail.. although i was hinted in a way the night before that i've successfully pass the interview and will in the final 10 list, i was still actually very nervous as i was scared that the administration or the board may just make a mistake...

i prayed so hard, crossed my fingers and toes, then clicked and open the e-mail to then only find out that i've successful, and officially get into the programme and became the final 10..

so...here am i... after a whole day and night of partying and celebrating, to share and to express my gratitute towards airasia...

this is actually a video i've made earlier...

thank you air asia...

to those who've failled in any of the interview, please, don't give up.. it s*cks to fail and worst when you're that close in realising your dream, but then giving up means the end of everything..

all the best and good luck to the rest of the aspiring pilots..!

Hello Air Asia blog team and everyone,

As you all know, I applied the cadet pilot through the “So you wanna be a pilot” contest. I am one of the lucky 35 who was shortlisted to go through the selection stages of the cadet pilot programme. With full confidence and faith, I passed the 1st stage written tests, 2nd stage aptitude test and was finally called up for the final interview on October. During my interview session, I was told that I did not do well for the short test prior to the interview, in other words I failed the test. Like anyone would, I was shocked and got carried away, I did not know what went wrong. I honestly tried but there was nothing else I could do to convince the interviewers to take me as part of their cadet pilot. Maybe I did not prepare well enough, but I have tried my best.

On the day of the announcement of the results, I did not see my name on the list… I am unsuccessful. It was heartbreaking and painful to accept… a part of me died knowing I did not make it to the top 10. The only thing in the world that I would want to do was to find inspiration, just to keep my spirits up…
And then I remembered my post for the blog, you still kept it Air Asia. I read it again... Somehow, in every aspect it told me not give up in pursuing my ambition.

Although I have failed but in every defeat there is a hidden success. I have learned a lot of things from this experience, I came to know that there are many candidates who failed the interview stages several times but are still persevering and vying for this opportunity again.

I recalled even the littlest things during the final minutes of my interview, when one of the interviewers told me to never give up my dream, eventhough the news is devastating... he said, “Just so you know, I’ve completed my SPM in 1990 and it took me 13 years to finally be a cadet pilot. Don’t ever give up your dream no matter what, work harder next time and soon enough we will be flying together.” The words from a pilot that will stick in my heart for life. This failure is not the end of the road yet, it does not mean I have given up, not yet.

Air Asia, you once told me not to give up no matter what. You’ve strengthen my determination and my passion even more and made me realize how much this dream means to me. I will get back up and fight for something that I want to do for the rest of my life. So, I have applied to be part of your cadet pilot programme again and I will never stop applying until my age tells me to.

Well, this pilot dream would be switched off for the time being and I will concentrate on my normal routine. But I hope that a surprise would come around anytime soon!

i really have no idea how to put words together to just write this post..

i having a very mixed feeling now as i feel as though i am at the point of life where every single steps i take and every single word i speak takes into the account in my future.. i am now only 24 hours away from my final stage for the Cadet Pilot Programme from AirAsia Berhad... well to me, its more than an interview.. Its a matter of life and dead (not literally) and the decision from the judging panel will affect my future for now..

Honestly, i have never planned for what to happen after I've successfully passed the 2nd stage interview, which was the psychomotor test last 2 months.. all i had in mind was that i might fail and there goes all the effort i've put in to just become the cadet pilot of AirAsia..

to some readers, you might not know on how much i've wanted to become a pilot... it has always been my dream to be able to be the man flying the plane.. i know very well that there are tonnes of kids or teenager out there who are better than myself, but i just want it very very very very badly.. I am having this mix feeling now la.. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow before, during and after the interview.. I have no idea how i will feel and how i will react to everything... All i want to do now is just to pray and to hope for the best so that i can perform my very best tomorrow.. I really hope that all my effort put in so far, so long, is at least enough to qualify me to become their cadet...

As I am typing this post, I'm listening to this song, and having this video playing which I've made earlier this year for the blogging competition.. Honestly, without this blogging competition, I won't be able to here.. It is the competition that gave me the 2nd chance to attend the interview after failing my interview at the first attempt last year.. My journey to be a cadet pilot for AirAsia might end tomorrow if i fail the interview... However, it will not be the end of my dream and I will never let myself stop in realising my dream.. AirAsia, if i am to fail in becoming your cadet pilot this year, do look forward in receiving more of my entries and application next year, and the following year till i manage to join your airline and to celebrate your success...

Firstly I must thanks Mr Derek and the whole blog team ( and AirAsia of course ) for the " So you wanna be a pilot " blog competition . It opens up an opportunity for those who are pursuing their dream to be one step closer to what they are aiming for.

Frankly speaking this is my first time of my applying to become a cadet pilot as I am only 18 this year however this dream has been in my heart for long . I am doing my Form Six ( upper Six ) this year when I started to apply for this. I had wanted this so much thus I had put in a lot of effort in it . Most of my friends were very astonished when they heard that I am applying for cadet in this year and had put so much time and effort in it as I am having my STPM by the end of this year . Even my teachers are shocked to hear this and some of them really can't understand why am I doing this in my important year ( STPM year ) . Well , why should I make myself so busy that I had to divide both my attention in cadet pilot and in STPM ? Why don't I just finish my STPM first and apply for it later ? Many people had asked me the very same questions . My answer is just simple but it is the only answer : I like flying so much and this is my dream , one and only , and it has been in my heart for so long . I was unable to apply for it when I had finished my SPM or when I was in my Lower six as I haven't reached 18 years old by that time . And now , I am 18 already . The chance that I had waited for so long is now here . Right in front of me . So why should I wait ? No matter what is the route that I am taking now , being a pilot is always my aim . I can't afford the high fees to a private flying school and there is no such a so-called pilot course in Universities , so whatever the route that I am taking now ( for example now is STPM ) is just a back up and additional educational background in my way in pursuing my dream to be a pilot . So why should I wait ?

I was so thrilled when I found out that I am one of the 35 shortlisted in the " So you wanna become a pilot " blog competition . I then waited anxiously for the news to attend the first stage test . I waited anxiously and until June , there was news released saying that there will be a first stage test held on 21 June . I was so thrilled that I checked my e-mail inbox for more than ten times everyday , but I didn't get any news . I saw the bloggers attended the test one after one , in 21 June , 27 June and 28 June . Finally 28 june has passed . I received nothing . I knew that most of the bloggers had already attended their first stage . I was worried is I was left out . I left comments in the blog yet nobody can give me a clear answer . I e-mailed the cadet pilot selection team everyday yet no reply . I was quite worried yet I believed Air Asia will do as what they had promised , that is to give all the 35 bloggers a chance . They promised , so I waited. Anxiously but with hope .

Finally the day that I had waited for so long came . I managed to have a chance to attend the first stage test ( written test ) on 18 July . I just kept my STPM books aside and put all my heart and soul in it . I must make it through . I told myself .
I was a bit nervous but soon got into situation when I saw Captain Suresh , Captain Dinesh and some other captain's friendly smile . The test went on well for me , as it was what I had prepared hard for . Thankfully I was only one and a half year from my SPM when I attended the written test .
When I walked out of the academy , I told myself , I will come back shortly . Shortly . And I did it . I then revisited my beloved academy on 16 August , about one month after my written test . This time I am having my psychomotor test .

Frankly speaking I am the type of girl who seldom play games . No , I am sorry , I like games a lot , I meant I like sports a lot , but I seldom play computer games . However , I got a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and practiced it very often . I like the feeling very much . The training sessions are using Cessna and I felt like I am in the cockpit of the Cessna itself when I played the Simulator . I finally managed to make pretty take offs and landings using that simulator .Thus I went to the second stge interview happily and full of confidence .

I thought that everything is under my expectations but it was not . From a usual Logitech joystick to a six button joystick , from a 13" inch desktop screen to a 50" inch plasma TV , from a simulator to a some sort like PS2 game , different programme , and the more is , different meters . I know it's my problem but I must confess that I was not used to the meter that I had to refer to . I guess it's some sort like the meter in an airbus , and it's far more different from the meters in a Cessna . In short , everything was out of my expectations , totally out . There was too much differences between them .

For the take off part , in trial , I forgot to put up my landing gear . Then in first attempt , I failed to control both my angle and altitude . Then in second attempt , I failed to control my altitude . In landing part , I haven't got to know what was going on in my trial and my plane crashed in less than two minutes when the game started . In my first trial , when I looked down to find the button to decrease throttle and put down my landing gear , it crashed . In second attempt , I managed not to crashed it but I was not able to flare and the system just jumped out .... In all my six attempts I didn't even have the word " clear " when the game ends .... In ALL six attempts the system just jumped out half way ..... no any marks ......

I know I really did it extremely bad this time ..... So sad ..... I had prepared for so long but everything was just out of my expectations but I know that I had tried your best for it. No matter how I feel now, the result cannot be changed so I just accept it. Living in this world, we may not always get what we want, but at least I had tried my best to achieve it, then I won't feel regret about it in the future.

I really hope that I would be given one more chance but I know that this would be unfair for other applicants so I didn't asked Captain Dinesh about it . Anyway I still hope that I would be given a chance to proceed to the final interview . ( will Captain Suresh or Captain Dinesh read this ? haha )
Whatever the result is , I would never give up and I will apply again for the next intake as I want this too much . I would never let this failure ( if I can't proceed to final ) to let me down . Being a pilot is always my dream . I will constantly apply and apply till the day when I get it . I can see it . It is my future . I am and I will work towrards it . I want to be a pilot . I want to be a pilot . I want to be a pilot !!!!

So I am waiting for any good news now . Hope that I would be given a chance . I know that I am not the best but I have been working towards the best . I dream to be a pilot . I want to be a pilot . I aim to be a pilot . I work to be a pilot . I pray to be a pilot . I will be a pliot . One day . When the day comes , then you will see me fly high up in the air . In the cockpit . Hope that Air Asia can help me realize my dream .

Dream to fly , fly to dream ......

Jessica Lee Suk Tin

Hello world!
Let me introduce myself..
My name is Benjamin Siew Wan Siong, or better known as Candidate Number 5 in the "So You Wanna Be a Pilot" competition.
And the other person next to me here is Low Yi Yang, or better known as Candidate Number 3.

I'm 22 years old.
Yang is 25 years young;
I'm working as a trainee aircraft maintenance engineer.
Yang is working as an "Oreo-chemical" engineer;
I love exploring the internet and travelling as a hobby.
Yang loves drawing and break dancing as a hobby;
I'm vegetables lover.
Yang is a profound carnivore.

I and Yang did not know each other prior to the "So You Wanna Be a Pilot" competition, organized by AirAsia.
From the above "prescription", it sounded like a recipe for disaster if we were to be put together.

Believe it or not,
I and Yang only got acquainted after both of us got short-listed as one of the few potential candidates to compete in the then final 10 spots for the "So You Wanna Be a Pilot" competition.
In all rights, we are competitors.
And in any competition, competitors usually try to put each other down in order to emerge as the winner.
But surprisingly, that wasn't the case for me and Yang.
We were like buddies for decades when we first came in contact with each other.

We got so comfortable with each other to the extend of even organizing a trip to Kuching, Sarawak for all the short-listed candidates. Yang even trusted me and bank in money to my bank account to book for his flight and hotel(I was thinking either I'm a very trustworthy person or Yang is a very generous person! Hahaha!). Although none of the other candidates join us for the trip, I wouldn't consider the trip as a total failure.
We still went ahead with the Kuching trip and treated the trip as a "celebration" for being the finalist after AirAsia's Blog Team (You know who!) announced that all 35 short-listed candidates will be in for a life changing interview this coming June.
For all those people who missed out on our little adventure, here are a few photos for you to ogle at.

Kuching's only public transport. The SAMPAN... Just Kidding.

Welcome to Kuching, Sarawak! It's so damn developed that the traffic there is some time more worse than Kuala Lumpur.

Me and Yang chilling at "Bing!". One of the best franchised cafe there! Can beat the living daylight out of Starbucks and Coffee Bean combined, anytime!

For those people who still thinks Sarawakian still lives on trees, yeah they still do. Except they are made out of bricks and has an elevator!

Yang, don't simply touch other people's pussycat.

Me and Yang with FO Jasper on AK 5219 cockpit. (Look ma, we three have no necks!)

So yeah, although we touched down around midnight, and both of us have to work the next day, we undeniably had a great deal of fun for the weekend. The flights were affordable, food there was cheap and tasty and Kuching was a great place to unwind. Kuching could very well be a weekend destination instead of a what used to be an out-of-reach holiday destination, made possible by AirAsia.

So to put things in perspective, all these would not have happened if wouldn't because of a great company with great employees as their asset.
I wouldn't have met a great buddy.
I wouldn't have a shot at living my dream career as a pilot.
I wouldn't have a channel to voice my happiness here at this blog.
Millions of thanks to those who made this world a smaller place to live in.