SINGAPORE: Riding in a helicopter as a child left a deep impression on Captain Padigepati Aniru Reddy (CPT), who dreamed of becoming a pilot one day.
CPT Anirudh, now 36, said the view from the sky was “so amazing that I wanted to fly.”
However, as a teenager, he was unable to join the Singapore Youth Flying Club due to poor eyesight. He had myopia and astigmatism of his 450 degrees in his right eye and his 400 degrees in his left eye.
It was during my first job interview with the Singapore Air Force (RSAF) that I learned that I could become a military pilot if I underwent corrective eye surgery.
Since 2005, RSAF has sponsored corneal refractive surgery for eligible aircrew who have passed a rigorous medical examination.
CPT Anirudh underwent surgery when he joined the Air Force in 2010 and is currently working as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
“It’s clear that good vision is very important for search and rescue. A lot of the time you’re flying low, you’re looking out to sea looking for people,” he said.
Approximately 400 aircrew have benefited from the RSAF’s surgical program to date. All returned to military flight duty after the procedure, and none developed complications that would prevent them from returning.
The program debunks the myth that perfect vision is required to become an RSAF pilot, said Flight Medical Officer Major (MAJ) Isaac Chai Wei Jie.