At 72, retired pilot Lee Ean Keong has a treasure trove of stories, from flights with one of Malaysia’s former prime ministers to heart-pounding encounters with air turbulence. “Interesting” doesn’t even begin to cover these memories.

Born in Alor Setar and raised in Ipoh, Lee was one of the pioneering pilots of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), although he joined while it was still known as Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA).

When MSA officially split in 1972, Lee recalled: “We were given a choice: either join Singapore Airlines or Malaysia Airlines. In my batch of 12 pilots, just three of us decided to go with MAS.” He added that in total, MAS only had around 30 Malaysian pilots.

Lee retired from flying in 2011 after clocking close to 20,000 flight hours, but his memory remains razor-sharp as he reflects on his training days.

“When I was sent to the Philippines Airline Aviation School for flight training, we were told from day one that there were only four things we could say: ‘Yes sir,’ ‘no sir,’ ‘I will find out, sir,’ and ‘I can’t afford it, sir,'” he told FMT Lifestyle.

Lee became a pilot in July 1971 when he was selected as a cadet pilot with MSA immediately after completing his Form Six education in Ipoh.

“I always had a passion for flying,” he said, “but to tell you the truth, I thought that if I became a pilot, I wouldn’t have to study anymore.”

Lee, of course, has been all over the world, even training in New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Yet, when questioned about one unforgettable experience, he returns to his days as a co-pilot in Sabah.

“Back then, the roads in East Malaysia weren’t great,” he said, adding that flying was often more convenient, especially for folks transporting goods.

“I remember this one time we had passengers coming on board with baskets of live chickens. The chickens were running all over the cabin and our stewardesses were also running around, trying to catch them.”

In the 1980s, after he had climbed the ranks to become a captain, he took charge of the VVIP flights, often flying former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to overseas destinations.

Once again, he recalled a hilarious incident. “During a flight to Papua New Guinea, when our prime minister came down from the aeroplane, the Malaysian national anthem was played, but it was the Singapore flag that was raised.”

The next day Port Moresby newspapers featured an official apology on their front-pages for the mistake.

Despite the glamour of the profession, according to Lee, there are distinct challenges, like extended separations from home, sometimes spanning close to a month.

“For a pilot to have a family,” he said, “the wife must be very strong. And that’s what my wife has been all these years.

“She played the role of both father and mother. When anything happened, she was the one running up and down.”

Lee and his wife, Caroline Wong, met in 1968 during their school days in Ipoh. They have been married for 51 years.

“I avoided delivering any bad news to him while he was in the air because what can he do about it?” Wong said. Indeed, protocol dictates that a pilot is not allowed to fly back if he receives distressing news while on duty.

Lee said he has witnessed significant transformations in the aviation industry during his long career.

“When I first started as a pilot, there were five people in the cockpit: the captain, co-pilot, aircraft engineer, radio operator, and navigator,” he said. However, technological advancements have led to the gradual disappearance of many of these roles over the years.

“Today, it’s down to just the captain and co-pilot. Who knows, maybe one day there will be no one flying the plane.”

With all his children settled abroad, Lee continues to travel the world, but this time as a passenger instead.