60 Seconds With... Tan Soon Keat, McLarens Aviation

Explain your job to a five-year-old.

Well, you know how when your toys crash, they sometimes need someone to figure out what happened and how much it may cost to repair? Well, I do that – but with big, expensive flying machines.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Being a loss surveyor with McLarens Aviation over the last 15 years has been a superb experience and there are many highlights.

Every time I help an airline get their damaged aircraft repaired and back in the air is a wonderful moment.

What would you name your autobiography?

Finally Airborne: Misadventures of an Aviation Loss Surveyor.

If you could learn any new skill, what would it be?

Juggling airplane models. Just kidding. Playing the accordion would be just as challenging.

If you could be a fictional character, which one would it be?

I would pick Iron Man, so I could zip around in a fancy suit and fix planes with style. That is, if I can fit into an Iron Man suit.

What chore do you hate most?

Ironing is my arch-nemesis.

What did you buy with your first wage packet?

I splurged on a shiny new Aiwa Walkman. Now you know how old I am.

What would you tell your 18-year-old self today?

Hey, don’t worry about that ‘bad hair’ day. You’ll have much bigger things to fix and fly.

What song is guaranteed to make you smile or dance?

The Top Gun anthem! The guitar riff makes me feel like I’m soaring through the clouds.

What sporting event that you’ve never attended is top of your bucket list?

I am an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer, however I have never taken part in an underwater photography competition. Hmm, would this even be classified as a sporting event?

If you could go back in time to any point in history, where would you go?

The first successful airplane flight by the Wright brothers. I’d bring a picnic and cheer them on.

What is one fact about you that would surprise your colleagues?

They might not believe I once mistook a passenger for a flight attendant and asked for extra peanuts. Actually, they might not be too surprised.

What one thing couldn’t you live without?

Definitely my trusty Bose noise-cancelling headphones. They accompany me on every flight.

How do you define success?

Success is like turning turbulence into smooth skies – it’s about finding solutions that suit all parties and making everyone’s journey better.

What was the last lie you told?

I promised myself I’d stop eating chocolate chip cookies.