Fathers Inspire Next Generation In Aviation

By Nurhafizah Tan

SEPANG, June 21 (Bernama) -- Growing up as the daughter of a pilot, 25-year-old Balqis Amanda Mat Irwani was exposed to the world of aviation from an early age and witnessed firsthand the discipline and commitment required in the profession.

One of her fondest childhood memories dates back to when she was seven years old and had the opportunity to step into the cockpit of a plane piloted by her father, Captain Mat Irwani Mat Nawawi, 51, who serves with Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB).

“I still remember excitedly recording videos while I was in the cockpit. I pointed at the pilot’s seat and imagined myself sitting there one day,” she told Bernama in an interview held in conjunction with Father’s Day at the Malaysia Airlines Crew Reporting Centre at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here.

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Nearly two decades later, the eldest of two siblings is on the verge of turning that childhood dream into reality as she undergoes training as a cadet pilot with the same airline.

“Growing up, I travelled a lot with my family because of my father’s job. When the time came to choose a career that I would pursue for the next 30 or 40 years, I realised this was exactly what I wanted to do,” she said.

Despite earning excellent results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination and receiving a scholarship offer to pursue chemical engineering, Balqis Amanda chose a path that felt closest to her heart.

Her decision, however, was not without concern from her father.

As an experienced pilot, Mat Irwani said the profession demands far more than technical knowledge, requiring strong mental resilience to cope with the pressures that come with the job.

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“I knew she had the academic ability. That was never a concern. What I was unsure about was whether she could handle the pressure, the simulator training and the rigorous preparation required to become a pilot,” he said.

Those concerns prompted him to help Balqis Amanda prepare for her training, including testing her ability to cope with pressure during revision sessions at home.

“Supporting my daughter’s choice is part of my responsibility as a father. I will continue guiding her throughout her journey to becoming a pilot. I want her to be even better than I am,” he said.

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Meanwhile, MAB Engineering Services licensed aircraft engineer Lee Yong Qiang, 33, has also followed in the footsteps of his father, Lee Ah Teck, 62, who served as a licensed aircraft engineer with the company for many years before becoming a technical instructor.

Yong Qiang said becoming an aircraft maintenance engineer was not merely about following his father’s career path, but about carrying forward the values he grew up admiring, including discipline, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility.

“My father was a line maintenance engineer on the frontlines, a man whose quiet strength, unwavering dedication and ability to balance demanding shift work with family life made him my hero.

“Watching him work with resilience and humility inspired me to follow in his footsteps, and today I proudly stand in the same role as a line maintenance engineer,” he said. 

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Now working in the same field and under the same company, Yong Qiang said he has developed a deeper appreciation of the challenges his father faced throughout his career, particularly the immense responsibility of ensuring every aircraft was safe before taking to the skies.

For Ah Teck, fatherhood was not only about guiding his son’s career choices but also about being present during the most important years of his upbringing.

After years of working demanding shifts in line maintenance, Ah Teck decided to transfer to the quality assurance department when Yong Qiang was about 12 years old, allowing him to spend more time with his family.

 “When Yong Qiang was around 12, I decided to move from line maintenance to quality assurance so that I could have more time with my family,” he said.

--BERNAMA