From a JB Living Room to the Airbus Cockpit

Hi, I’m Yong Chuen. And like many pilots, my story starts long before I ever touched a flight control. Growing up in Johor Bahru, my childhood was soundtracked by Singaporean television. I remember one morning in 2007 very clearly. While my parents were either still asleep or out at work, I was glued to Channel 8, watching the live broadcast of the first SIA A380 taking flight. In that quiet living room, watching that giant bird defy gravity, I knew that the ground was only ever going to be a temporary home for me.

The Professional “Mask”

However, the path to the sky isn’t a straight line. When the pandemic hit and the aviation industry went dark, I had to pivot. I became a Licensed Real Estate Negotiator. If you met me during those years, you wouldn’t have known I was a pilot. I never talked about it. To me, professionalism meant being 100% present for my clients. Whether I was showing a luxury condo or a suburban terrace, my focus was on the deal. My business card quietly listed “CPL ME/IR (fATPL),” but in the world of property, those letters were just a secret code that almost no one asked about.

I spent those years in survival mode. My bed at home didn’t have aircon; it was stuffy, hot, and often filled with the stress of a high-interest Maybank loan and the uncertainty of a commission-based life. I lived through the “hard truth” of aviation: it is a high-risk investment.

Why I Started This Blog

Today, I am a First Officer with AirAsia. I’ve transitioned from the “lone wolf” hustle of real estate to the highly disciplined, SOP-driven world of the A320.

I started this blog for a few reasons. Firstly, I want to document this journey for myself—to never forget the days when I earned RM2,300 a year. Secondly, I want to pay it forward. When I was struggling, I relied on the blogs and stories of those who came before me. If you are stuck in a job you hate or staring at a mounting debt, I want to show you that while nothing is certain, risk can be managed.

My advice? If you have the dream, go for the airline cadetships. Manage your risk, keep your head down, and keep grinding. The view from 35,000 feet is worth every sweat-soaked night on a bed with no aircon.