I was born in Klang (Malaysia) about 6 months after the Japanese Occupation had ended in 15 August 1945. My father was a carpenter who migrated to Malaya from Guangzhou, China around the 1930s.
Fast forward to the sixties… I completed my initial education at the Klang High School in 1964 and started my Air Force career at the Royal Military College in Sungei Besi in 1966
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Soon after, I was sent to the UK to complete my officer course and flying training with the British Royal Air Force in 1968.
On my return, I served with the Royal Malaysian Air Force for about 14 years for King and Country.
I then left to join Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for about 25 years with the last 9 years flying the Boeing 777. I retired from MAS at the age of 60 and continued with AirAsia for a further 5 years flying the Airbus A320, A330 and A340.
I retired as an airline pilot at the age of 65 but continued to be gainfully employed as a Flight Simulator Instructor with AirAsia X on the ground.
While with AirAsia, I have written 2 books. The first one is titled LIFE IN THE SKIES which was placed third in Readers’ Choice Award in the Malaysia Book Festival 2015. It is now one of Asia’s best-selling aviation book. This book was translated into Mandarin in the same year.
My second book, SKIES TALES was launched by Tony Fernandes in 2017.
I pursued my law studies as an external student of the University of London while I was with the airlines. I completed my LLB in 1992 and the Certificate of Legal Practice in 1995.
While with Air Asia, I occasionally wrote articles for the Travel 3Sixty magazine and passively ran a website at www.askcaptainlim.com for the benefit of aspiring pilots and fearful flyers.
I am now 75 years old. I lost my job as a Simulator Flight Instructor on the Airbus A330 with AirAsia X after the Covid-19 pandemic. This crisis has almost wiped out the aviation industry. I hope it will recover soon as many are longing to go back to the skies after the lockdowns.
The MCO (Movement Control Order) has given me an opportunity to complete the chambering phase of my legal career.
Although I had completed my Law degree about 29 years ago, the pull to aviation and flying was too strong for me then. As such I had to put off my chambering until the unforeseen Covid-19 pandemic struck last year.
The adversity of this Covid-19 crisis has been a blessing in disguise for me.
So far, I found it very satisfying flying commercially till the age of 65 (maximum permitted) then as a simulator flight instructor (no age limit), and finally reaching the pinnacle of my life at 9 am on 26th March 2021, a day after my 75th birthday. Please click on this YouTube Link to view the Call to the Bar (5 minutes video clip – Me – bottom center – from 42:22 to 47:35)
I am happily married with a son (engineer), who lives in Shah Alam as my neighbor and a daughter (IT consultant), who lives in London. I have five grandchildren.
I would like to thank my wife, family, relatives and friends for giving me the moral support to continue with a new opportunity in life.
Age is only a number. If you enjoy doing what you do, go ahead.
However, I will be mindful and not forget all the wise sayings (from Steve Jobs, Li Ka-Shing, etc) that money is not everything in life. You should also enjoy your sunset years too. With this in mind, I am really happy to share my Call to the Bar with you all. Thank you.