The air show during the first edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in 1991 became the inspiration for a local boy from this resort island to become a pilot.

Lt Colonel Mohd Norazan Othman, 44, became interested in a career as a pilot at the age of nine and when he reached adulthood, he was determined to achieve that dream.

This 16th edition of LIMA is his sixth participation.

“1991 was the first time LIMA was held in Langkawi…I got excited when I saw the air show and was determined to fly a Royal Malaysian Air Force plane in LIMA one day.

“This is my sixth participation in LIMA and involvement in the air show, which is to fly MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft,” he told Bernama.

He was among the 23 RMAF pilots involved in the air show at LIMA ’23 here from May 23 to 27.

The fifth child of six siblings said that the performance featured in this edition was more about ensuring that the audience could see the aircraft being flown more closely and witness the Sukhoi’s ‘maneuvers’ more clearly.

“Along with the team, we decided to fly at a low altitude and low speed so that visitors could see and enjoy the display in full view,” he said.

When talking about his career, Norazan said his motto in life was ‘love destroys ambition’ that means not to fall in love while in school and that has been his guiding principle that eventually saw him rise to the ranks of a RMAF pilot.

He received his early education at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Mat Sirat, Langkawi and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Teknik Ipoh, Perak and through the focus in studies saw him successfully continuing his studies at the Kolej Tentera Udara.

“I joined the RMAF in 1997 and continued my studies at the aeronautical engineering diploma level before furthering my education at Kolej Tentera Udara and was given the opportunity to participate in a course as a test pilot in Canada,” he said adding that as a test aircraft pilot, he was responsible for testing aircraft that underwent design changes or major components.

Norazan who has served in the RMAF for 25 years has flown 25 types of aircraft and now continues to serve in the RMAF Planning and Development Division, Ministry of Defence.

“It is not easy to become a test plane pilot because it requires mental and physical strength as it involves aircraft and life,” he said while adding that there are only two test plane pilots in the RMAF thus far.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency