The WingsOverAsia Story - Part 1
Yr2003 to Yr2008… The Founder’s Dream.
Pioneering Asia’s private aviation landscape with Asia’s first online social network.
Yr2003 to Yr2008 - The Founder’s Dream
An insatiable desire to fly and a passion for private airplanes…
Yr2001 to 2002 - Prelude to the WingsOverAsia.com Social Network, spreading the addiction for airplanes.
Founder Meng joins Johor Flying Club in Malaysia to obtain a Malaysian Private Pilot License (PPL) after returning from USA with a FAA PPL, in order to satisfy his desire to continue to flying leisurely in Asia. Together with flying buddy Andi, then treasurer of Johor FC, Meng shared in and imported a Piper Cherokee from New Zealand and that commenced an aircraft co-ownership scheme among 6 Johor FC club members.
Beginnings of Asia’s first online aviation social network.
Mar2003 - WOA started as an online blog (www.wingsoverasia.com)
by founder Meng to publish and share General Aviation grassroots activities all over Asia. Through his regular business travels around Asia as a jet-setting business consultant, he passionately explores every corner of Asia to meet private aviators and check out flying destinations.
Nov2003 - A Spark of Inspiration in ChiangMai, Thailand
Meng ponders (while blogging on a Cessna 172's elevator in ChiangMai, Thailand), "Why can't flying in Asia be a team-like sport with a huge community to hang out with similar to wake-boarding and cycling which he loved?"
Feb 2004 - WOA transform into Membership Portal
Leveraging on his software programming knowledge, Meng transforms WOA into a FREE online community portal frequented by aviator members from all over Asia. This first aviation portal with social interaction functionalities that allowed members to message and share information with each other rapidly bridged the private aviation community across Asia regardless of nationality and race.
2 months later in April2004, a social networking website called "Facebook" quietly surfaced within the Harvard University campus.
Jun 2004 - WingsOverAsia.com registers as an online community portal and e-commerce service funded under Meng's privately owned consulting firm - Wings Ventures Pte Ltd.
Portal begins making online advertising revenues to fund off-line social activities for private pilots.
Aug 2004 - Founder Meng performs solo ferry of Cessna C152 from Manila to Malaysia
Performed pre-purchase, ferry delivery to Elite Flying Club, Malaysia
Nov2004 - WOA & ALPA-S
A freshly minted Singapore Airlines 2nd officer by the name of Nicholas reached out to WingsOverAsia.com and that friendship led Meng to a project that created Airline Pilots Association of Singapore's 1st pilot portal (in use until Yr2014). Nicholas is now a Singapore Airlines Captain and remains an avid fan of WOA!
Dec 2004 - Sales & Marketing support for AAS/Diamond Aircrafts in Asia
WOA Founder Meng provides sales and marketing support for Thailand's Asian Aerospace Services Ltd (AAS) throughout the setup of AAS's Diamond Aircrafts dealership and on behalf of AAS, signs Asia's very first official customer order for a Jet-fuel powered piston engine aircraft (Diamond DA42). This marks the introduction of Jet-fuel/Diesel powered piston aircraft into Asia.
Jan 2005 - Founder Meng makes presentation to Malaysian’s Langkawi Aviation Training Center on behalf of AAS/Diamond Aircraft.
LATC became the first in Malaysia to operate the Diamond DA40TDI (JetA1)
Feb 2005 - Sells Asia’s 1st Diamond DA42-TDI on behalf of AAS/Diamond to private pilot who subsequently became Malaysian Airlines CEO.
For his private use prior to him becoming Malaysia Airline’s CEO. Delivered in May2008. He shared Meng’s love & ownership of Subaru cars.
Dec 2005 - Sells Asia’s 2nd Diamond DA42 on behalf of AAS/Diamond to Cambodia’s Prince Norodom Ranariddh & brokers his pristine Socata TB21 to Malaysia private owner.
Founder Meng visits the Prince Ranariddh in his residence & hangar in Phnom Penh. Aircraft subsequently not delivered due to political exile.
Jan2006 - WOA overflying and begins operating it’s own Piper Warrior PA28 based out of the newly build Nusajaya Flight Park (private property), location of WOA’s first hangar cum clubhouse.
The very simple hangar and airpark became a regular hangout for Singapore & Malaysia leisure aviators and began an era of GA growth fostered by weekly cross-border interactions and flying.
Jan 2006 - 1st WOA Hangar in Malaysia
Granted land lease by Khazanah Nasional Berhad's subsidiary in Johor, Malaysia, WOA began operating one of Malaysia's first sports aviation private airpark concept on 3 acres of land in Bandar Nusajaya, Malaysia, together with airline pilot buddy Sivakumar S and Malaysian air sports pioneer Rick Mizia.
Dec 2006 - Owns & Operates Asia’s 1st Jet-fueled piston airplane
Founder Meng broke general aviation tradition and enter a new technological era by by becoming the first in Asia to own and operate a Piper PA28-161 Warrior aircraft retrofitted with revolutionary Centurion JetA fuel driven piston engine developed in Germany.
WOA’s aircraft was subsequently relocated to Thailand and registered under Thai HS registration for flights with Thai-based enthusiasts.
Jan 2007 - Founder Meng performs solo ferry of Piper PA28 from Melbourne to Malaysia
VH-FYH was delivered to for Elite Flying Club member Fred Tsai, the husband of TV actress Chen Xiuhuan
Mar 2007 - WingsOverAsia.com rents 2 desks in a warehouse.
Nestled within a beer storage and distribution warehouse, an online membership networking technology platform commences development.
Apr 2007 - WOA debuts its presence in China as the official online media for the 1st China General Aviation Summit in Beijing.
WingsOverAsia.com becomes a pioneer in private aviation news reporting in China and North Asia.
Feb 2008 - WOA upgrades to social networking platform
WOA redefines itself online with a major technology platform upgrade by Meng to a fully interactive aviation social networking platform with cutting edge technology, a first in the private aviation world!
Sep 2008 - Signs consulting services agreement with Nakhon Phanom Flight School, Thailand.
WOA provides cadet training marketing and recruitment as it furthers its presence in Malaysia and Thailand.
Nov 2008 - WOA trains Indonesian & Malaysia pilots on PAC750XL turboprop.
Meng became active with the aerobatic community after obtaining low level aerobatic endorsement from Australia CASA in Yr2005. WingsOverAsia.com’s adrenaline filled trio of misfits (Markus, Andi & Meng) became influencers for spreading the joy of private flying in Southeast Asia.
“By end 2009, WingsOverAsia.com Social Network for the Asian private aviators” has spread it wings all over Asia….
WOA becomes an early pioneer in the aviation world in leveraging innovative social media technologies to build an online social networking website and begins it's life as the "Facebook of the Asian private aviation world".
Throughout this period. Meng became member of Johor Flying Club, Elite Flying Club, Thai Flying Club, Sabah Flying Club, AOPA, EAA Malaysia actively involved in regional flying activities.
The WingsOverAsia Story - Part 2
Yr2009 to Present… Turning dreams into reality.
Innovating Asia's private aviation lifestyle services with Asia’s first integrated private aviation services facilities.