Who is Captain Ong

CaptainOng.com was founded in 2017 to demystify the world of aviation in Singapore. When I was making the transition from military to civilian flying, I was shocked at how little information was available locally. I started this site to change that, documenting my journey so others wouldn’t have to navigate the same fog.

What you’ll find here

  • Transitioning from the RSAF to civilian aviation
  • Obtaining an FAA ATP and converting it to a CAAS CPL (with frozen ATPL)
  • Getting hired by a Singapore-based airline
  • Life as a First Officer, the road to Captain, and becoming an instructor
  • Insights on the aviation industry in Singapore and beyond

Since 2017, this site has touched the lives of many aspiring aviators. Some have gone on to earn their wings, and one even ended up as my trainee on the flight deck. Moments like that remind me why I started CaptainOng.com in the first place.

My story

I left the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 2016 to co-found a Legal Tech startup. I was doing well in the RSAF, but it became clear to me early in my career that life in the military was not for me. It was only by chance that an opportunity to join a Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) in Singapore came knocking. I never looked back. Having held the rank of Captain in the RSAF as a fighter pilot and Fighter Weapons Instructor, I set out to earn the title once more in the civilian world.

After serving as a First Officer for three years, I became eligible for command upgrade in 2020, only for COVID-19 to put a stop to those plans. Like many pilots during the pandemic, I found alternative employment and chose to return to startup life, putting in hours at Grof.co, where I had been informally providing advice even before COVID. Eventually, I rejoined the Legal Tech startup I had co-founded. I was doing well in corporate life, so much so that I considered giving up aviation altogether. After all, who knew whether the airlines would survive?

In early 2022, just as signs of recovery were emerging, I started command training and was successfully promoted to Captain in August 2022, thereafter leaving corporate life behind for good. The next three years saw the biggest boom the industry has ever experienced. I was in the right place at the right time, getting appointed as an instructor in 2023 and taking on the role of President of Scoot Staff Union (STSU) in 2025.

After years of startups, a pandemic, and more than a few detours, I was finally Captain Ong once again.

At a glance

  • 1,500+ flying hours in the RSAF (fighter pilot & weapons instructor)
  • FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) licence holder
  • CAAS CPL with frozen ATPL
  • A320 Captain & Instructor Pilot
  • President, Scoot Staff Union (2025 - present)

How the industry has changed

The aviation landscape in Singapore has shifted since I started this website. We went from three scheduled airlines to two. Airbus and Boeing dominated the skies back then; today, Embraer is also painting the skies with its growing presence in the region.

A lot has changed in my journey too. What began as a licensing guide has grown into something broader, covering life as a line pilot, industry developments, and the work we do at STSU to represent our fellow crew.

Get in touch

I hope you find the information you need. If you would like to reach out, drop me a message on Telegram!