How a Singapore Pilot Overcame Poor Eyesight to Achieve His Childhood Dream

Watching the F-16 Black Knights at the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Open House in 1998 inspired a young boy to dream of flying. But his poor eyesight convinced him that becoming a pilot would be impossible. Twenty-five years later, that boy, now Captain Zane Lim, sits in the cockpit of an F-15SG fighter jet, hoping to inspire future RSAF recruits.

Captain Lim, now 31, shared how his dream nearly didn’t come to pass. With myopia that required glasses, he believed perfect vision was necessary to fly. It wasn’t until an RSAF recruitment talk in polytechnic that he learned pilots were accepted as long as their eyesight wasn’t worse than 500 degrees. Encouraged by this new information, Zane went through a series of tests and corrective eye surgery provided by the RSAF, finally making his dream a reality.

Since joining the Air Force in 2013, Zane has trained for a decade and now participates in the Aerial Capability Display—an event that sparked his passion for flying all those years ago. This display, held at the RSAF Open House, showcases intense aerial maneuvers, including a simulation of escorting a plane with a bomb threat on board. In 2019, Zane was part of the team that intercepted Scoot flight TR285 following a bomb hoax, making the simulation particularly meaningful for him.

RSAF Open House Highlights
The RSAF Open House returns after seven years on Sept. 9-10 at Paya Lebar Air Base, offering activities for all ages. Visitors can take part in interactive VR and AR experiences, enjoy static displays of aircraft, watch the K9 unit in action, and explore a range of attractions, including food stalls and performances by the SAF Central Band. The event is free and does not require tickets.