Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Ensuring Adequate Checks on Aircraft before Arrival into and Departure from Singapore Airports

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport what measures are in place to ensure that all airlines and private plane operators perform adequate checks on their planes before their departures from and arrivals at Singapore's airports to ensure safety.

Reply by Minister for Transport Chee Hong Tat:

1.     The International Civil Aviation Organization requires all States to ensure that their registered aircraft are inspected regularly and are safe for flight.

2.     The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has implemented a regulatory safety framework to ensure safety for all operators of Singapore-registered aircraft. This includes requiring routine inspections of aircraft before each flight as well as other inspections by aircraft manufacturers at pre-determined frequencies to ensure that aircraft are in compliance with their requirements. CAAS also conducts regular audits and checks on all operators of Singapore-registered aircraft to ensure that robust processes are in place for these inspections and to verify that the required inspections are carried out.

3.     Airlines and operators of foreign-registered aircraft operating to and from Singapore are similarly required to adhere to their respective States’ safety framework. In addition to this, CAAS performs regular inspections to assess these operators’ ability to prepare the aircraft and crew for flight.