Insights + interviews
In Conversation With Lawrence Koh
We caught up with Lawrence Koh to find out more about iFly Singapore and how it is possible for active agers to participate in indoor skydiving.
AA: What was your main motivation behind setting up the iFly Singapore and how did you envision it to be for the public?
LK: iFly Singapore was conceived to share the dream of flight with everyone; that anyone can learn the skill of indoor skydiving and flying! Skydiving has always been viewed as a niche sport and the perception that only daredevils would partake in the activity is misconception along with other limitations that include cost, regulations and the high risk of jumping off an aircraft. However, with the wind tunnel right in Singapore, the public now has access to skydiving indoors in a safe and affordable manner.
AA: How did you achieve the goal of making iFly Singapore accessible to people of all age groups?
LK: Fun, affordability and safety are three key aspects of the iFly wind tunnel and flight experience that makes iFly Singapore accessible to people of all age groups. Recently our team organised a Family Appreciation Day alongside The International Year of the Family with the support of the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the event saw an approximate of 60 Lupus patients joining us for a day of fun and laughter on top of a flight experience. Many patients in their 50s and 60s who suffered from Lupus flew in the wind tunnel and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
AA: How do participants move from recreational involvement to competition level for skydiving?
LK: As indoor skydiving is a sport, there are existing training syllabuses that are governed and sanctioned by the International Bodyflight Association. Through a structured training programme, we are able to train participants to perform competitively, this is done in tandem with the organisation of our quarterly-held Skydivers’ Night which encourages local skydivers to participate and build the indoor skydiving community.
AA: What kind of challenges would there be especially for ‘older’ participants?
LK: While there are limitations for ‘older’ participants, it’s still a possibility, provided that they have no history of shoulder dislocation, back or neck injuries. And coupled with guidance provided by our professional instructors, the high level of control in the wind tunnel (down to the wind speed), the flight experience enables ‘older’ participants to exercise their mobility in air – something which they can’t quite practice on land.
AA: How do you think a sport like skydiving can forge a greater communal bond among participants of all ages?
LK: Communal bonds are forged when people associate the sport of skydiving with fun. Most of the time we catch ourselves talking about the flight experience with customers in the form of shared memories. We too have indoor skydiving members who never knew each other prior their iFly Singapore experience and they now are best of friends. We do build a close knitted community especially with the quarterly skydiver night, and every last Sunday of the month we simply get together to fly.
AA: What would you do to encourage more seniors to take part in skydiving at iFly?
LK: As indoor skydiving is a sport, there are existing training syllabuses that are governed and sanctioned by the International Bodyflight Association. Through a structured training program, we are able to train participants to perform on a competitive level. It is also safe for older folks to participate as it is in an entirely simulated and controlled environment, in fact we have witnessed many active agers who actually took to the skies as they participated in actual skydiving. Another interesting point to note is that the oldest member that iFly Singapore has flown in the wind tunnel is 97-years-old, and globally the oldest indoor skydiver stands at 106 years of age.
AA: What do you hope to see in future of iFly Singapore?
On the international stage, indoor skydiving is recognised as a sport by the FAI and IBA. It is therefore our aspiration to have indoor skydiving recognised as a sport in schools. We too want to share the dream of flight with as many people as possible through our our flight experience and Edutours. We also plan to build more iFly facilities around Asia to share this dream.
