Aviation’s key stakeholders to converge at Singapore Airshow

The Singapore Airshow, Asia’s largest and one of world’s most important aerospace and defence exhibition, is set to take-off next month with the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS) from Feb 14 to 15 once again leading the event, capturing critical conversation by global industry leaders on new ideas and emerging technologies that will provide new opportunities to further drive the global aviation.

The Singapore Airshow is scheduled to be held from Feb 16 to 21, bringing together key stakeholders in aviation, including top government representatives, civil aviation authorities and senior executives of airlines, airport operators, aircraft manufacturers as well as the heads of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The event, according to the organisers, is aimed at exchanging valuable insights, networking and strengthening the nexus between governments and the aviation industry. While the first four days are marked for trade, the last two are for the public.

“(For Singapore) the event certainly raises the profiles of aviation players here including our airports, airlines and our air navigation services in terms of our capabilities and standing in the world. It gives us an opportunity to help influence the policies in key issues that global aviation community is talking about,” Mr Kevin Shum, director-general of Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) told TODAY.

SAALS, Mr Shum noted in a media briefing, will explore three key areas: the future of hubs, unmanned aircraft regulation, and the issues around a global agreement on aviation emissions at the 2016 ICAO assembly.

SAALS, which will be held at the Raffles City Convention Centre, is jointly organised by CAAS, Experia Events, IATA and Singapore’s Ministry of Transport.

Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be the Guest-of-Honour at the opening dinner on Feb 14, while Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, Dr Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, ICAO Council President and Mr Tony Tyler, Director General & CEO at IATA will deliver the conference’s opening keynotes on Feb 15. Ms Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport, will lead the lunch dialogue session on Feb 15.

The A*Star Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum, focused on advanced aerospace technologies, will be held on Feb 15 as well.

During the show itself at the Changi Exhibition Centre, several forums on emerging technologies, training, and the aviation business in Asia will be held, said Experia Events’ managing director Mr Leck Chet Lam.

At the last airshow in 2014, US$32 billion worth of deals were concluded, with major contracts announced for firms such as Airbus, Embraer, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, ATR, Pratt & Whitney, GE Capital Aviation Services, Bombardier, and ST Engineering.