On 3 September 2025, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) unveiled Singapore’s National Aviation Safety Plan (2025-27) to strengthen aviation safety as Singapore’s air passenger volume hits record levels and is expected to grow strongly in the coming years. National Aviation Safety Plan (2025-27) identifies the safety challenges in Singapore’s aviation sector, particularly:
a) operational safety risks, for example on runways;
b) emerging risks, for example those associated with manpower constraints and Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Frequency interference; and
c) the integration of new and emerging technologies into the aviation eco-system.
To address these challenges, the National Aviation Safety Plan sets out 45 actions the sector will take along four priority areas:
a) to holistically improve operational safety, through infrastructure improvements, systems integration, and proactive risk management;
b) to review and develop new policies and rules to support industry growth and innovation without compromising safety;
c) to strengthen safety management and culture, through closer tripartite partnership and stronger safety management systems; and
d) to develop human capital, to ensure and sustain safe operations.
As Singapore’s aviation safety regulator, CAAS oversees over 200 aviation companies 220 aircraft and 25,000 aviation professionals, including pilots, air traffic controllers and engineers, involved in aviation operations in Singapore and around the world. Through the National Aviation Safety Plan, CAAS works with other government agencies, international partners, aviation companies and personnel to review the operating environment and identify safety risks and develop coordinated actions to address them.
The first National Aviation Safety Plan was released in 2022 with 50 action items. Its focus then was on the smooth and safe ramp-up of aviation manpower and operations post- COVID. Of the 50 action items, 75% have been implemented; the remaining items will take more time to complete. The Singapore aviation sector has since achieved a strong and full recovery, while maintaining a low number of safety occurrences. In 2022, Singapore was audited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for its aviation safety management under ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). Singapore achieved zero findings and an Effective Implementation score of 99.7%, the
highest score amongst States in the world, above the global average of 67.5% at the time.
Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, said, “Singapore has today one of the strongest aviation safety regime in the world. Notwithstanding this, the recent spate of serious aviation safety incidents around the world is a timely reminder that we must stay vigilant and not take safety for granted. The National Aviation Safety Plan is a call to action, for the Singapore aviation sector to work together to ensure aviation safety as we position ourselves for growth.”
