IN November 1963, a young Goh Boon Cheng completed his Malaysian Certificate of Education at King Edward VII School in Taiping. He had a fervent desire to join his eldest brother in supporting the Malaysian army during the Indonesian Confrontation.
Undeterred by an initial rejection by the army in 1964, he applied to all three branches of the armed forces (army, navy and air force) in the following year. To his surprise, he was accepted into the air force, having demonstrated a high aptitude test and a perfect 20/20 vision.
February 1966 marked the beginning of Goh's illustrious career as he joined the air force's Short Service Commission (SSC Intake 9) for officer cadet training in the Royal Military College in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur. After six rigorous months of military training, he was commissioned as a pilot officer and sent to the Royal Air Force Flying School in Leeming, England.
Upon returning to Malaysia after a year, Pilot Officer Goh was assigned to the No. 4 Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Air Force based in Kuala Lumpur.
His role as a transport aircraft pilot saw him frequently flying the Handley Page Dart Herald turbo-prop plane, transporting army troops between Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and to fight the communist insurgents in Sabah and Sarawak.
His exceptional piloting skills and notably smooth landings earned him the prestigious role of a pilot for very, very important persons (VVIP) at his Air Force Headquarters. By 1970, Goh was flying the newly acquired HS125 twin-jet aircraft for VVIP's, including flying missions for the His Majesty the Sultan of Kedah, who was then the fifth Yang di-Pertuan Agong, both locally and internationally, to destinations such as London and New York.
NATIONAL HONOUR
In mid-March 1972, following a flight from Alor Star, Kedah, to RMAF KL, the king personally recognised Goh's dedicated service and his legendary skill to consistently land a huge aircraft with the lightest touchdown and nary a thud to be experienced by the passengers.
This royal appreciation culminated in Goh receiving the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN — the Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm) on the king's birthday on June 3, 1972.
At just 26, he became the youngest air force officer and the second youngest in the armed forces to receive this prestigious national honour.
After completing his seven-year contract with the air force in August 1973, Goh transitioned to Malaysian Airlines System (MAS). Within six months of conversion flying, he was appointed as the captain on the Fokker Friendship F27-500 aircraft.
His career in MAS saw him commanding various aircraft, from the Fokker Friendship to the Boeing B737-200, Airbus A300B4, DC10-30 and the iconic Boeing B747-400. He was put in charge of long-haul flights to London, New York and Los Angeles.
Upon retiring from MAS at the age of 60, Goh joined AirAsia, where he flew the Airbus A320 and A340 for another five years. His career spanned a remarkable 45 years, during which time he served both the RMAF and commercial airlines with distinction and honour, culminating in his compulsory retirement at the age of 65 in February 2011.
Captain (rtd) Goh Boon Cheng's journey from a young aspirant to a celebrated pilot is a testament to his unwavering dedication and exceptional skill. His illustrious career remains a source of inspiration, showcasing a lifetime of dedicated loyal service to king and country without incident, truly blessed by God's grace.
This article was written by Ingenieur Lieutenant-Colonel Raymond Goh Boon Pah KMN (Royal Engineers Veteran).