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09
July 2004, 0945 hrs
Location: FFTH Warehouse, Jalan Redop, Seletar Hills Estate |
The
goodie bags neatly laid out at the FFTH warehouse
|
 
The
pilots for today are Alexander Sie, 45, and Aldous Lee,
34, both commercial pilots |
Pre-Flight Briefing...
Before the start of the mission, our two pilots Alexander
and Aldous let us in on how and why they got involved in ad
hoc deliveries.
Alexander: “I found out
about FFTH from the newspapers and thought it was quite
interesting, so I signed up from the web. Besides giving
in kind, I also like to offer my energy and time and knowing
where my efforts go to gives me instant satisfaction. Most
importantly, I don’t like to see food go to waste,
so this is a good way of saving food. I do deliveries as
and when I am in town, so I just let the manager, Diong,
know my available dates and she will text-message me my
assignments. We are just like a standby-pool.”
Aldous: “I read about FFTH
from the papers as well and all along I had the intention
to do something similar to this, so I decided to join. Personally,
I feel that this is a novel idea and I should make good
use of my time to do something for charity. I like the feeling
of bringing cheer to the recipients and knowing that they
will have a decent meal. Doing ad hoc deliveries suits me
perfectly as it is on-time, on-target.”
|
1000 hrs
Location: Loading Bay, FFTH Warehouse, Jalan Redop
Mission proper begins
|
Loading
the cargo |
“Which
way is faster ah?” |
1010
hrs
Location: Pan Island Expressway, ETA 1030 hrs
|
Finally
we’ve taken off. Sit tight!
Aldous: “This is an eye-opening
experience as I realize that there are many people who require
help in Singapore”
|
1030
hrs
Location: Lakeside Primary School
|
Before we
know it, we have arrived at our destination safe and sound,
thanks to the excellent piloting skills of Aldous. But the
mission is yet to be completed. Our next task is to unload
the cargo and hand them over to the school staff. Once the
vehicles are parked safely, the two pilots eagerly begin to
unload the goodie-bags. The school principal decides on a
case-by-case basis which needy students are eligible for the
goodie-bags. Often, the beneficiaries are students who cannot
even afford to eat during recess. Deliveries are made to the
school once a month and the items given out vary, depending
on the donations which FFTH has received that month. Needy
students are given a bag of toiletries and a bag of food each.
|
Alexander
unloading the goodie-bags
Alexander: “Every delivery is
a different and interesting encounter and I learn how to
handle these situations” |
The
school’s administrative staff receive the goodie-bags |
“Ahh,
so heavy!!!”
Some helpful students from Lakeside Primary help to carry
the goodie bags to the admin office |
1050
hrs
Location: Lakeside Primary School
End of Mission
|
Smile!
Mission Accomplished! |
Post-Flight Debrief
As the last few goodie-bags are carted off, the expressions
on the two pilots’ faces display a sign of deep satisfaction,
knowing that their job is completed and that the goodie-bags
are in safe hands, waiting to be distributed to the needy
children. Taking a last look around to ensure that everything
is settled, the pilots depart to resume their regular lives,
looking forward to the next time they will be called upon
for a new mission.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, we have
arrived at our destination. The local time is 1050 hours
and the weather is bright and sunny. Thank you for traveling
with us on board flight SQ FFTH.”
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