Speeches
Speech by Senior Minister of State for Transport Dr Lam Pin Min at the Singapore Aviation Academy 60th Anniversary Dinner
30 July 2018
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Mr Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador of ICAO,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
1. Good evening. It is my pleasure to join you this evening to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Singapore Aviation Academy, or SAA. We have here more than 200 guests from 50 countries who have been part of the SAA in one way or another. It truly shows SAA’s far and wide reach to the international aviation community.
Contributing to the advancement of International Civil Aviation for the past 60 years
2. SAA has come a long way from its humble beginnings. It started as Singapore’s in-house air traffic control training school in an old single storey building at Paya Lebar Airport in 1958, with only five participants. Four years later, SAA accepted the first batch of international participants. It later relocated to Seletar Airport in 1972, where the increased capacity enabled it to train more international participants.
3. In 1992, the centre was renamed the Singapore Aviation Academy, and relocated to the current premises. The purpose-built facilities have enabled SAA to enhance the range and depth of programmes, and to raise the quality of teaching. This was a bold step towards realising SAA’s vision of becoming a global premier centre of learning for civil aviation.
4. SAA’s courses have since expanded beyond operational and technical training, to include leadership and management level programmes and specialised training. By partnering with institutes of higher learning, SAA also offers post-graduate and distance-learning programmes. In recognition of its efforts, SAA was conferred the prestigious 34th ICAO Edward Warner Award in 2000, and was the first in the world to be recognised as an ICAO Regional Training Centre of Excellence (RTCE) in 2014.
Nexus for sharing of aviation knowledge and experiences and nurturing global aviation leaders
5. As the training arm of CAAS, SAA meets the training needs of CAAS and local aviation industry professionals. Through its four specialised schools, SAA conducts more than 400 programme-runs annually.
6. Among other skills, these programmes enable air traffic controllers to perform their jobs to the highest standards with state-of-the-art technology, and equip frontline regulators with the competencies to discharge their safety obligations. The Academy also supports the training of the Maintenance, Repair Overhaul (MRO) and the aero-medical sectors. In total, SAA trains more than 6,000 local aviation industry professionals a year.
7. SAA also welcomes about 2,000 international participants to Singapore every year. It also conducts numerous on-site courses worldwide as part of Singapore’s contribution towards ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative.
8. To help build the next generation of aviation leaders, Singapore signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ICAO in February this year to establish a 5-year Programme for Young Aviation Professionals.
9. Valued at S$6 million, the programme provides 40 scholarships and 600 fellowships for young aviation professionals, age 35 and below, to attend courses at SAA. This is in addition to the 400 fellowships that are offered under the Singapore-ICAO Developing Countries Training Programme as well as the Singapore Cooperation Programme each year. New training agreements were also signed with the Civil Aviation Agency of the Republic of Macedonia and the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority at the 2018 Singapore Airshow. Under these agreements, SAA will develop and conduct training programmes to support aviation development in the two countries.
10. SAA has also enabled Singapore to become a nexus for the sharing of aviation knowledge and experiences. It regularly organises forums and seminars that bring together global civil aviation leaders.
11. For example, the SAA’s flagship biennial programme, the World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum, brings together leaders of the global aviation community and was convened for the sixth time last year. The Directors-General of Civil Aviation Programmes on Aviation Safety and Aviation Security allow for the exchange of ideas on how aviation can continue to be safe and secure.
12. SAA has trained over 34,000 international participants. Some have progressed to become Directors General in their respective countries. We have in our midst today, three DGs and DDGs who are SAA alumni.Mr Sabino Henriques, DG of Timor-Leste was an ATS Manager when he first attended a course at SAA in 2002.Mr Kone Hassane Ibrahim, Acting DG of Burkina Faso, was an ANS Inspector when he attended his first SAA course in 2011. Deputy Administrator for Palau, Mr Clar Chin Techitong has attended numerous SAA courses - both at SAA and onsite in Palau, since 2012.
13. These testify to SAA’s contributions to sharing knowledge and experiences, and nurturing generations of aviation leaders.
Constantly innovating to remain at the forefront of global aviation training
14. Over the years, SAA has constantly strived to improve training outcomes through innovation and technology. In May, SAA commissioned a new Breathing Apparatus Training Simulator, which will train airport firefighters to carry out search and rescue tasks in confined spaces. It has a three-tier maze to make training scenarios more challenging, as well as a console which controls noise, heat and smoke levels to achieve high levels of realism.
15. Later this year, SAA will launch a new website and portal called iSAA. This new integrated system will facilitate seamless service delivery from course enquiry to course delivery and completion.
16. This portal streamlines processes and will further strengthen SAA’s engagement with participants and alumni.
17. The planned refurbishment of SAA’s campus will also enhance the learning experience of the next generation of aviation leaders.
Conclusion
18. As we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of SAA, it is befitting that we pay tribute to all who have contributed to making SAA what it is. I would like to thank our international alumni, partners, instructors, lecturers, and staff. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the DGs for their support of SAA. Without their support, SAA would not be where it is today.
19. I’m confident that SAA will continue to build on its strong foundations and strive towards greater heights.
20. Finally, I wish you an enjoyable evening. Thank you.