EVERY day holds a new mission for Mr Simon Quah, 27.
And he tackles each one with diligence and concentration - as lives are at stake.
Mr Quah is a military flight engineer and accompanies the pilot and crew on flight missions.
He gets a bird's eye view of Singapore on an almost daily basis.
Before he gets on each flight, he has to carry out maintenance and servicing of aircraft systems to make sure that the aircraft under his charge is fit for flight.
He said: "Safety consciousness and professionalism are crucial in the aviation world. We have to be very disciplined about this.
"If not, lives may be lost."
Being in a military organisation requires discipline and determination, he said.
Needs concentration
"Being a (military) flight engineer is a challenging job that requires professionalism, situational awareness and a high level of concentration."
Mr Quah also has to see through each mission from the ground, to the air and back to ground again.
He said: "Anything can happen while I'm up in the air, and I'll have to solve it."
Even though the job is demanding, Mr Quah enjoys himself thoroughly.
"I get to deal with different situations daily, and each day is never the same. It's anything but mundane."
On a lighter note, he added with a grin: "I don't have to worry about what to wear."
He is now into his fifth year on the job, and has been to Texas in the US for training and work.
But Mr Quah believes there's more he can learn.
Up-to-date engineering knowledge is crucial and he is taking a bachelor's degree course in mechatronics engineering at the PSB Academy.
"This course teaches me more tools and techniques for troubleshooting. Hence, gaining such additional knowledge can be a help in my career."
To manage both work and studies, Mr Quah had to "sacrifice rest and fun".
But it helped that PSB Academy offers more flexibility to part-timers like himself.
Lectures are recorded and put up on the Internet, allowing students to catch up on classes if they missed one.
Being a flight engineer may not be for everyone though.
If you're colour blind or afraid of heights, you should stay grounded.
