Defying Age, Pilot Halim Still Soars With Aerobatic Thrills

Barnama

16-05-2025

By Nur Syahidayah Mahasan
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- While most people look forward to retirement at 60, swapping busy workdays for hobbies and time with grandchildren, one Malaysian pilot is still reaching for the skies – literally.
Datuk Halim Othman, better known by his callsign TooGoo, is 59 and shows no signs of slowing down. As the commander of Malaysia's elite national aerobatic team, Krisakti, he continues to perform high-adrenaline stunts in the sky, manoeuvring through complex formations thousands of feet above ground.
'I've never stopped flying. And I don't intend to,' he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama, his calm composure betraying a lifetime of focus and discipline – and just a hint of adrenaline.
Halim's journey into aerobatics began in 1991, the same year the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) made its debut. Back then, he was a young Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter pilot, flying the legendary Skyhawk jet. Today, over three decades later, he remains active – not only as an aerobatic maestro but also as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Aerotree Group.
With LIMA held every two years, preparation for the event is no small task.
About two months before every LIMA showcase, Halim and his team begin intensive training to condition their bodies for the high G-forces – the powerful gravitational pull experienced during rapid aerial manoeuvres.
'Most of the performers are still serving in the military. For us retired pilots, staying in top form takes extra effort. It requires discipline and consistent training,' he said.
Safety, he stressed, remains the top priority.