Singapore: A Global Aviation Hub
SINGAPORE has come a long way from its earlier days as a technical stop between Europe and Australia. From the outset, its aviation policies emphasized open skies, and the city-state’s airport was designed to facilitate hassle-free connections Airport serves nearly 7,000 flights every week, connecting passengers to more than 380 cities worldwide. added roles, such as managing and ensuring timely and accurate aircraft departures.
With the implementation of Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) at Changi Airport, self- service processes are now offered at key passenger touch points. Automated check- in and bag- drop facilities can already be found at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. A full suite of FAST automated options with biometric integration for check- in, bag- drop, immigration clearance and boarding will be implemented at the new Terminal 4 when it opens later this year. This will greatly reduce manual passenger processing.
To keep pace with growth, the aviation sector will also need to deepen the skills of the workforce.
Schemes for skills upgrading, like the Skills Future Study Awards for the Air Transport Sector, encourage Singaporeans to develop and deepen career- related specialist skills, while the Professional Conversion Program makes it easier for mid-career workers to take up aviation jobs. The CAAS will also be developing a new air transport degree program, which offers opportunities for internships and work- study stints to facilitate graduates’ seamless entry into the sector.
Last but not least, the CAAS will provide opportunities for local businesses to grow. For Majestic Rain Vortex. example, it will be issuing a Call for Proposals (CFP) to collaborate with end- users and drone companies to test out innovative use case for drones.
Contributing to international civil aviation
Singapore is actively engaged with the international civil aviation community through its participation in global and regional bodies. It is currently a member of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO’s Air Navigation Commission and over 110 ICAO expert bodies. Singapore heads 18 of these expert bodies and has seconded experts in air navigation, aviation safety and aviation security to the ICAO Secretariat at its Montreal Headquarters and Bangkok. It is also a key member of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization.
In support of the push toward an Asean Single Aviation Market, the CAAS heads the Asean Aviation Regulatory Monitoring System, which seeks to align the regulatory systems of Asean member states with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
In another initiative, the CAAS has teamed up with Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) from the Distributed Multi-Nodal Air This information- sharing framework among airspace users, airport operators and ANSPs aims to to cut airborne holding times and minimize delays on arrival. It will reduce imbalances between air airports, as well as fuel burn and carbon emissions.
Operational trials to validate the ATFM concept have been ongoing since 2015, in partnership with China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, and have yielded positive results. A threeday operational trial in August 2016 at Changi Airport, involving - tion in airborne holding times by approximately six minutes on average, which equates to aggregated fuel savings of approximately S$100,000.
Capturing passenger mindshare with Jewel Changi Airport
Even as it works to enhance the safety, security, efficiency and sustainability of Changi Airport, Singapore is mindful that an enjoyable passenger experience is also key to its success. To further elevate the Changi Experience, Jewel Changi Airport is under construction. Jewel sits in the middle of and connects Changi Airport Terminals 1 to 3, and provides not just facilities for airport operations such as expanded arrival and baggage claim halls for Terminal 1, dedicated services for fly- cruise and fly- coach passengers and early check- in facilities, but also unique lifestyle offerings, including gardens and other attractions, retail and dining options and a hotel. Jewel will open in 2019.
Located at Jewel’s topmost level, the Canopy Park will feature three iconic attractions that blend into lush greenery – Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes and Discovery Slides. In addition, there will be open areas where children will be able to wander amid the greenery. One such area, Foggy Bowls, will incorporate mists to simulate the experience of playing among the clouds.
Emphasizing Singapore’s aim to be a City in a Garden, Jewel will house one of the country’s largest indoor plant collections, with Canopy Park boasting of over 1,400 trees and palms. Nestled among winding walkways, the Topiary Walk will surprise visitors with its animal-shaped topiaries at every turn, while the Petal Garden will showcase
The highlight of Canopy Park is the 50- meter long Canopy Bridge, which provides visitors with an excellent vantage point to enjoy the breathtaking 40-meter high Rain Vortex, which is slated to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Suspended 23 meters above ground, the Canopy Bridge will incorporate for visitors to look right through
With these unique offerings, Jewel promises to strengthen Changi Airport’s appeal as one of the world’s leading air hubs.