Response Speech to the Adjournment Motion “Low-Altitude Economy: Building the Flying Car, Air Tourism and Drone Logistics Industry” by Senior Minister of State for Transport and National Development Ms Sun Xueling

 1.         Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank Dr Neo for raising his motion.

The Potential of the Low-Altitude Economy

2.         The Government pays close attention to the development of the Low-Altitude Economy.

a.         Indeed, drones and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, can be viable options for economic, transport and logistics uses.

b.         We agree with Dr Neo that these technologies provide opportunities to enhance safety and productivity, enable new operational capabilities and services, and support innovation, across multiple domains.

3.         In particular, Dr Neo spoke at length about eVTOLs, which his company Neo Aeronautics focuses on, and mentioned Air Mobility, Air Tourism and Air Logistics as areas of opportunity for Singapore.

a.         Unfortunately, it may not be viable to deploy eVTOLs extensively as a domestic transport option. eVTOLs are similar to helicopters, and are more viable in places with severe traffic congestion, and where point-to-point flight can cut down travel time considerably. They would have marginal utility in Singapore, where airspace is congested and given that we already benefit from a well-connected ground transport network.

b.         However, eVTOLs could eventually become a viable option for cross-border travel to adjacent offshore islands, or even cross-border cargo transfer with neighbouring countries. We will continue to monitor the progress of eVTOL technologies, and its safety and cost considerations.

4.         In contrast, drone technology is at a more mature stage, with more viable and developed use cases. In Singapore, public sector agencies and commercial players are already using drones in practical, beneficial, and meaningful ways across numerous domains.

a.         For logistics, we are already trialling the use of drones for ship‑to‑shore deliveries at our port, to transfer and turnaround high-value or essential items. By reducing the need for frequent boat trips, drones alleviate manpower demands and minimise risks faced by maritime workers when operating in challenging sea conditions.

b.         For land transport, drones already help to inspect Singapore’s train and road tunnels. They allow our engineers to carry out their inspections more efficiently and with greater precision, while reducing the need for manpower to operate in potentially hazardous or hard-to-access environments.

c.         For aviation, commercial firms are exploring the use of drones for visual inspections of aircraft, to complement existing maintenance processes. This allows for faster checks, enhanced accuracy, and improved safety outcomes, freeing up our maintenance personnel to focus their expertise where it is most needed.

d.         For the built environment, BCA and HDB already use drones to conduct periodic façade inspections in a faster and more efficient manner. In October last year, the MND also trialled the use of drones to conduct high-rise ledge cleaning in Punggol, which would otherwise need to be conducted by workers on gondolas, which incurs higher safety risks. We hope to scale up such operations so that more buildings in Singapore can be assessed and maintained using drones.

e.         For security, SPF deploys drones to monitor crowd numbers in real-time during major events like the National Day Parade or the Marina Bay Countdown.

f.          As you can see, there are many use cases that our various public sector agencies are already using drones for.

Facilitating Use Cases: Our Current Approach

5.         The Government has sought to create a conducive ecosystem in Singapore for the safe experimentation, development and deployment of drones.

6.         First, we support research and innovation through trials, sandboxes and funding. We agree with Dr Neo that these are important for rigorous testing within safe and controlled environments. This helps us determine the viability of new use cases, and figure out how drone technologies and operational processes can be further refined to meet desired outcomes.

a.         For example, PUB worked with ST Engineering to use drones to monitor water quality and activities at six reservoirs, which is a faster and more accurate alternative to the traditional method of in-person patrols. Using drones in this manner can potentially reduce the required man-hours by up to 70%.

b.         We also identify areas that we can temporarily use as sandboxes for flight trials. In the case of the NTU research team which Dr Neo mentioned, CAAS facilitated the initial hover tests of their prototype eVTOL at the former Turf City racecourse in Kranji last year, ahead of its public unveiling at this year’s Singapore Airshow.

c.         We will review how we can expand testing sites, including exploring overseas sandboxes in partnership with regional neighbours, as Dr Neo has suggested. These can be located further from urban areas, and provide a safer and larger environment to trial larger drones and eVTOLs.

7.         Second, we adapt and streamline our rules regularly to allow a wider scope of low-altitude operations.

Widening scope of operations

a.         In 2025, we allowed some commercial drone operations to be conducted at higher altitudes in designated areas for all days of the week for façade inspections. This increased the flexibility and productivity of these inspections, and reduced operating costs.

b.         We have also facilitated trials for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights, and these flights can safely operate over larger areas and longer distances away from the drone operator, potentially with reduced manpower. The MHA is exploring using BVLOS drones to deliver automated external defibrillators during emergencies.

Streamlining processes

c.         We have also revised our regulations to allow commercial operators to seek approval on a per-activity rather than per-drone basis. In particular, this has benefitted drone light show operators, who handle thousands of drones at a go to create visually stunning spectacles.

d.         In 2025, we also enhanced real-time airspace clearance processes to expedite approval of drone activities, such that operators can now obtain immediate clearance for drone operations at certain heights and locations.

8.         Third, we are investing in talent and manpower, as Dr Neo had suggested. We are intensifying education efforts to promote the responsible use of drones, develop suitable technical skills, and nurture interest in low-altitude technologies for Singaporeans of all backgrounds and ages.

Educational institutions

a.         We are working closely with our educational institutions to integrate drone-related courses into formal curricula. Dr Neo suggested creating specialisations in AAM technologies, especially at the tertiary level. Those taking aerospace engineering courses at university can today access an increasing variety of drone-related modules. Four out of our five polytechnics are also approved as Unmanned Aircraft Training Organisations, and conduct practical courses in drone operations. Several primary and secondary schools have also introduced drone flying within their curricula or as part of the Applied Learning Programme.

Public education

b.         Beyond our educational institutions, there are a wide range of facilities, workshops and courses available to the wider public. CAAS has launched two Unmanned Aircraft Flying Areas at Pandan Reservoir and Dover Road where enthusiasts can gather and conduct their own recreational operations. At the same time, CAAS partners with vendors such as Just Fly It to conduct hands-on workshops.

c.         Members of the public may also use their SkillsFuture credits to attend short-term drone operation courses by institutions such as SMU and ITE, to ensure that their skills are kept up to date.

Singapore’s Unique Landscape

9.         While we have made considerable progress thus far, we know that more can definitely be done. And this will require overcoming certain constraints, which Dr Neo had alluded to.

a.         First, Singapore’s airspace is limited. With multiple airports and air bases, and flights coming and going constantly, the use of our low-altitude airspace will need to be managed carefully between civil and military aircraft, and drones and eVTOLs.

b.         Second, Singapore has a dense and highly built-up urban environment. And this gives rise to complex issues relating to security, safety and privacy, due to the dense high-rise residential areas and closely co-located security-sensitive locations across our island.

c.         Third, Singapore’s unpredictable weather and tropical climate pose practical challenges for aviation. This is something that we already need to manage carefully for large planes at Changi, let alone smaller and more unstable low-altitude aircraft. It is essential for overall aviation safety that we test new technologies rigorously and work out robust operational processes, prior to development.

10.       Against this backdrop, we have generally adopted a conservative approach in the past. But with drone technology becoming more mature, we can do more. We are studying the approaches in overseas jurisdictions, and will adapt what is relevant to Singapore’s operating environment. Dr Neo mentioned China as an example and we agree that there are aspects that Singapore can learn from:

a.         Chinese cities are trialling drones for a multitude of urban use cases – including food and parcel deliveries, high-rise façade inspections, traffic monitoring and enforcement, and search and rescue operations – many of which Singapore may also wish to explore.

b.         The Chinese Government has also provided strong support for companies involved in drone development and production, in the form of tax reliefs, subsidies and industrial parks.

c.         In the US too, there has been significant progress. Commercial companies like Wing, a Google spinoff that our Acting Minister of Transport visited just last month, have commenced delivery operations across the country

d.         In these cities, regulatory frameworks are evolving rapidly. For instance, some cities in China have recently tightened their regulations for recreational and civilian drone operations. In the US, the regulatory frameworks vary considerably depending on the state and the city.

Next Bound: Strengthening the Wider Ecosystem

11.       In Singapore, the Government, as I mentioned, will continue to closely monitor the evolution of this space. Dr Neo proposed a National Strategy on Advanced Air Mobility, and the Low-Altitude Economy. He mentioned a “Triple-Helix approach” involving the Government, industry, and research or educational institutions. We agree with Dr Neo that it is important to bring together the wider ecosystem and we will consult all stakeholders.

12.       MOT’s immediate focus is to drive the usage of drones more extensively, especially by the public sector. And this is because we already have many potential use cases. And we will also continue to work with the private sector on commercial use cases, while continuing to emphasise safety and being cognisant of our unique operating environment.

13.       Allow me to end off by assuring the House that we will continue to work together closely, to safely and responsibly harness the benefits of low-altitude technologies for our transport sector and Singapore’s wider economy.

14.       Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.