Sport has a unique unifying power – it brings communities together and forges friendships. That was what a group of cabin crew members at Singapore Airlines realised when they joined Flight Crew Riders (FCR), a sporting interest group that was set up by their predecessors.
Once strangers, they are now good friends who meet up every month to cycle around Singapore. All of them agreed that if it had not been for FCR, they would not have been able to find such like-minded people. “The company is really big now, so it would have been hard to get to know the different faces outside of work,” said chief steward Bernie Ong, 45, who joined the group in 2014.
Chief steward Leslie Lee agreed, adding that the intention had always been to let cabin crew members get to know each other and build connections. The 47-year-old was one of the first members when the club was formed in 2011. He is now the chairman. The group has grown from just a handful of enthusiasts to approximately 300 members. These members are divided into three sub-groups which are categorised by bicycle and terrain types.
Flight stewardess Nicole Ng joined FCR a year ago after another member, 44-year-old inflight manager Grace Khi, had invited her. 25-year-old Nicole used to compete as a triathlete but had stopped cycling to take a break. “I decided to take it up again because it’s a good platform to bond with your colleagues and it brings people together,” she shared.
Among the newer members of FCR was a married couple: chief stewardess Deanna Soon, 40, and leading steward Jeffrey Adam, 51. “I wasn’t drawn to him at first,” Deanna joked. “I thought he talked too much.” But as serendipity would have it, they got to know each other better over time and their friendship blossomed into something more.
It was Jeffrey’s love for cycling that inspired Deanna’s own passion. “I still remember the first time that he brought me biking. I cried because he gave me a bike that weighed 10 kilograms and we cycled for 40 kilometres,” she said, laughing.
“I felt bad, and I told her I wouldn’t bring her along anymore,” Jeffrey chimed in. But Deanna insisted on continuing. Nine years later, she has become as competent on two wheels as he is.
ALL GOOD
Working in Singapore Airlines has changed all of them on a personal level. Jeffrey, for instance, shared that he used to be quite shy. As a cabin crew he learned how to be more expressive and break out of his shell. The training has also ingrained a spirit of discipline and graciousness in all of them, he added.
Bernie, who has been with the airlines for more than 20 years, loves the flexibility that the job provides and he has the luxury of planning his time. Leslie, too, said that he enjoys his work because anything can happen on board — no two days are alike. “That’s what makes you feel alive,” he quipped.
For Deanna, the job taught her to push her boundaries. “In the past, you wouldn’t have caught me talking to so many people or knowing how to handle challenging situations.”
For all of them, FCR is an extension of what they value about working in Singapore Airlines – the club helps them to grow and gain confidence while strengthening the bonds which they have developed.
“I like that we’re able to talk freely with each other about anything under the sun,” Bernie said. “We can reminisce about the good old days or exchange stories and share information about work so we know what’s happening and how to deal with certain situations.”
Better relationships encourage better teamwork, and all the members agree that work is easier when they know the crew. “There’s better communication and you can gel with each other,” Leslie noted. “For example, if someone from FCR sees that I’m doing something incorrectly, it is easier for him to let me know because we are on good terms.
Ultimately, the cabin crew members said that cycling has imbued them with skills that help them succeed at work. Despite the long hours, hectic lifestyle and jet lag, they would never give up on their passion. Leslie, however, who has two young daughters aged nine and seven, admitted that sacrifices have to be made.
“I’d give up on my sleep and go cycling early in the morning so that I don’t eat up the time I have with my family,” he shared with a laugh. “I’ll even sleep in the living room so I don’t wake them up when I get ready at 5am!”
But he would do it in a heartbeat, he added, because the regular exercise helps him focus and maintain his energy onboard.
Grace, who had once cycled 450 kilometres over three days, agreed: “You must have a lot of discipline and endurance when it comes to cycling. It gives you the tolerance to get through a lot of things. In the end, the sense of achievement is amazing.”
Experience a career beyond the ordinary! Visit singaporeair.com/cabincrewcareers to find out how you can join us as a cabin crew member.
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