What you need to be a Singapore Air Operator

If Singapore is your principal place of business and you intend to operate your aircraft for the purpose of public transport (hire and reward), you are required by the Air Navigation Regulations (ANR) of Singapore to hold an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) before the anticipated start of operations. You are also required to obtain regulatory approval from CAAS before commencing air services for hire or reward (scheduled and non-scheduled). 

  • The Air Navigation Regulations Part 91, 119, 121, 135 and 98 state the conditions, qualities, qualifications, standards and procedures necessary to qualify for and maintain an AOC, as well as incorporate new practices or procedures to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
  • The Air Navigation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations stipulate the requirements for the operation of scheduled and non-scheduled air services for hire or reward.

For more information on the application process for an air operator certificate, click below:
Air Operator Certificate

List of Singapore Air Operator Certificate Holders

Today, Singapore is home to 4 AOC holders:

  1. Singapore Airlines Limited
  2. Jetstar Asia Airways Pte. Ltd.
  3. Scoot Pte. Ltd.
  4. ST Engineering Defence Aviation Services Pte. Ltd.

Air Services for Hire or Reward

CAAS welcomes the operation of scheduled and non-scheduled air services that would contribute to Singapore’s air hub. Before you can operate scheduled and non-scheduled air services for hire or reward, you must do the following:

  1. Obtain a valid Air Operator Certificate (AOC) issued by CAAS;
  2. Open an account in flightSG;
  3. Do either of the following through flightSG:
    a)     For scheduled air services: File flight schedules; or
    b)     For non-scheduled air services: Apply for Air Transport Permit
  4. Apply for slots approval from the Changi Airport Group (CAG):
    a)    Changi Slots Coordinator (CSC) for flights to/from Changi Airport; or
    b)    Seletar Schedules Facilitator for flights to/from Seletar Airport.

flightSG


Singapore air operators holding a valid AOC issued by CAAS may register for a flightSG account using Corppass.

More details about flightSG and the user guides for the various modules can be found at https://flightsg.caas.gov.sg/cms/c706c8b2-67c8-4976-bdd9-a51cb844293b

Scheduled Air Services for Hire or Reward


Scheduled air services to/from Singapore are subject to the various bilateral/multilateral air services agreements (ASAs). Singapore air operators are required to:

  1. Be designated as a Singapore carrier under the relevant Air Services Agreement; and
  2. Have a license under the Air Navigation (Licensing of Air Services) Regulations to operate each route to or from Singapore.

You are then required to file your proposed flight schedules through the Schedules module in flightSG at least 4 weeks before each IATA schedule season for CAAS’ review in relation to the exercise of traffic rights.

You are also required to apply for CAAS’ approval for any revisions to your schedule filings for the season, ad-hoc changes to flight schedules and flight cancellations. Such applications should be filed through flightSG. Processing time usually takes 3-5 working days.

Please refer to the flightSG user manual on “Filing and Revision of Flight Schedules” for the step-by-step guide on how to file for scheduled air services: https://flightsg.caas.gov.sg/cms/c706c8b2-67c8-4976-bdd9-a51cb844293b

New airlines operating to Changi Airport may contact Changi Airport Group for important information that can help you plan your operations at:

Non-Scheduled Air Services for Hire or Reward


Singapore air operators operating non-scheduled air services to/from Singapore are required to apply for an Air Transport Permit (AT Permit) through flightSG. Some examples of non-scheduled air services requiring a valid AT Permit include charter flights for business, cargo, medevac and aerial works. Some ad-hoc flights operated on top of scheduled services may be regarded as non-scheduled air services, and require a valid AT Permit.

  • Please refer to the flightSG user manual on “Application for Permit for Non-scheduled Air Services” for the step-by-step guide on how to apply for AT Permit: https://flightsg.caas.gov.sg/cms/c706c8b2-67c8-4976-bdd9-a51cb844293b
  • For urgent non-scheduled air services that are less than 24 hours from the proposed date of operation, foreign air operators are to submit the application for AT Permit on flightSG and inform the CAAS duty officer at +65 9833 1775.

Slots Approval


Regardless of whether you are operating to Changi Airport or Seletar Airport, a slots approval is required before you operate to Singapore:

Changi Airport

To apply for slots at Changi Airport, all Singapore air operators must submit their applications to the Changi Slot Coordinator via either:

a.   A Slot Clearance Request (SCR) to the Changi Slot Coordinator (CSC) minimally 72 hours prior to the operation of the flight, for which the slot will be utilized, at:

Email: csc@changiairport.com
Tel: +65 6541 2378 or +65 6541 3064

b.   For operators without a 2-letter IATA airline code, a General (Aviation) Clearance Request (GCR) to the Changi Slot Coordinator (CSC) at:

Email: csc@changiairport.com

For urgent non-scheduled, scheduled and private flight operations that are less than 24 hours from the proposed date of operation, in addition to submitting the SCR/GCR, operators/agents must also inform the Airside Operations Section of CAG (Airside Management Centre) at +65 6603 4906 / +65 6541 2275 / +65 6541 2273.

Seletar Airport

All Singapore air operators of non-scheduled or private flights intending to operate to Seletar Airport must submit flight details of their planned operations to the Seletar Schedules Facilitator prior to these operations. Details of your planned operations shall be submitted by operators or their agents to seletar.airside@changiairport.com during the flights submission window. The flights submission window is defined as no earlier than 7 calendar days but no later than 1400 UTC / 2200 LT on the day prior to the planned operations.

For urgent non-scheduled flight operations of which details were not submitted during the flights submission window, operators or agents must submit the details to Seletar.airside@changiairport.com and call to inform the Airside Operations Section of Seletar Airport at +65 6481 5077.

Operators shall be prepared to make adjustments to their operations when necessary as advised by the Seletar Schedules Facilitator.

  • Please refer to the Singapore Aeronautical Information Publication (SIN AIP) at https://aim-sg.caas.gov.sg/eaip.html, “GEN 1.2 Entry, Transit and Departure of Aircraft”, for more details on slots approvals.

Air Operations Other Than Public Transport

Air operations other than public transport are classified as General Aviation or Aerial Work Operations. For general aviation or aerial work operations using Singapore-registered aeroplanes and helicopters, the following Air Navigation Regulations apply:

To apply, please contact us. An officer will be assigned to guide you through the application process.