Young Semai female pilot breaks barriers in M'sian aviation
Wak Elizabeth Tan Say Hong with the 409kg Pegasus Quantum at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi. (Bernama pic)
LANGKAWI : Under the blazing sun at the Aircraft Static Display area of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima), a young woman can be seen meticulously cleaning a microlight
Under the blazing sun at the Aircraft Static Display area of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (Lima), a young woman can be seen meticulously cleaning a microlight
aircraft
Wearing a constant smile and speaking with enthusiasm, Wak Elizabeth Tan Say Hong, 19, cheerfully explains the features of the small aircraft and the services offered by Flytrike, a light aviation company participating in the 17th edition of Lima.
What many may not expect, however, is that Tan is not just part of the exhibition team – she is one of Flytrike's pilots. Even more remarkably, she is of Semai descent, with Chinese heritage through her father.
'I never imagined becoming a pilot. But my father always dreamed of being one, and that sparked my own interest,' she told Bernama when met at the display area of the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre.
Tan's passion for aviation began after she casually tried paragliding after sitting for her SPM. That first experience sparked a genuine desire to fly.
'My early career started with Flytrike, which offers tandem services. I trained under them until I completed my first solo flight. I'm now undergoing tandem training,' she said.
The requirements, she shared, are simple: good health, not being colour blind, and legs long enough to reach the throttle.
The second of four siblings, Tan hopes to inspire others from the Orang Asli community to chase their dreams.
'My mother is Orang Asli from Batu 17, Jalan Tapah in Cameron Highlands. She grew up in the jungle, without internet or even a fridge. After marrying my Chinese father, they moved to Petaling Jaya in Selangor.
'To succeed, there's really nothing impossible – no matter where you come from or your background,' she said. Tan is now working to complete the required flying hours to qualify for her full pilot's licence.
This being her first time at Lima, she said she was thrilled by the experience, especially seeing aircraft and helicopters from various countries up close on the tarmac.
As for the microlight she flies, Tan describes the 409kg Pegasus Quantum as 'unique', saying the aircraft seats two people and offers a different kind of flying experience compared to conventional planes.
'The microlight's control system works in reverse – push to go up, pull to go down. Its open design offers a more immersive flight experience. You can feel the wind and the surroundings directly, unlike looking through a small window in a commercial plane,' she explained.
Lima, which concludes today in Langkawi, has been Southeast Asia's largest maritime and aerospace exhibition since its inception in 1991.
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