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Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Media Release

CAAS and EASA Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Urban Air Mobility

18 October 2022

Agreement seeks to achieve common goal of promoting urban air mobility, such as air taxis, through establishing standards for the certification and operation of electric aircraft

         The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on urban air mobility to support the development, deployment and safe operation of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The agreement was signed by Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS and Mr Luc Tytgat, Strategy and Safety Management Director, EASA on 18 October 2022, on the side-lines of the inaugural European Union–Asia Symposium on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Urban Air Mobility.

2        Under the MOU, CAAS and EASA will collaborate in the following three areas:

(a) Development of Regulatory Standards

(i) Development of regulatory safety standards and related requirements for the certification and operation of VTOL aircraft, including the competencies of personnel involved in the operation of such aircraft, the certification requirements for operations in hot and humid environments and the requirements for personnel training organisations.

(b) Outreach

(i) Strategies for outreach to relevant stakeholders on urban air mobility including educational outreach to the public and the industry.

(ii) Analysis on public attitudes towards urban air mobility and VTOL as a mode of transport in an urban environment.

(c) Conferences and Other Activities

(i) Joint organisation of conferences, workshops, talks and other activities on urban air mobility.

3       The inaugural European Union–Asia Symposium on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) will be held in Singapore from 18 to 21 October 2022, and attended by over 140 participants. Jointly organised by CAAS and EASA, this is the first time regulators from Europe and Asia-Pacific are coming together to discuss UAS and UAM regulation, alongside leading industry players and researchers. Over 20 civil aviation authorities from the two regions will participate in the four-day symposium to engage industry players and researchers, discuss UAS and VTOL development and regulations and undertake a field visit to the Maritime Drone Estate, to learn how Singapore facilitates the development of novel technology in a regulatory test-bed environment.

4        Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS said: “In the last few years, we have seen quantum leaps in UAS and UAM development. The potential benefits are tremendous. Realising them will require concomitant development in regulation and regulators need to keep pace with technology and business developments to assure safety and security and build public confidence and acceptance. As the technology is novel, we cannot do this alone but need to work together to share knowledge and pool regulatory resources. The CAAS-EASA MOU is a pathfinder to catalyse such partnerships.”

5     Mr Luc Tytgat, Strategy and Safety Management Director, EASA, said: “The CAAS-EASA MOU signed today provides us with a platform from which we can continue to develop our valued partnership and safely integrate electric air taxis into the aviation system. We know that traditionally regulators lag behind industry developments and innovations. Both this MOU and the wider symposium will contribute to regulators getting ahead of the technology curve in support of our future safety oversight responsibilities.”

Annex 1 - Keynote Speech by Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, CAAS (opens in new tab)

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg (opens in new tab).

About the European Union Aviation Safety Agency
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the centrepiece of the European Union's strategy for aviation safety. Its mission is to promote and achieve the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation. Based in Cologne, Germany, the Agency employs experts and administrators from all over Europe. For more information, visit www.easa.europa.eu (opens in new tab).
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Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Email: caas_corporate_communications@caas.gov.sg (opens in new tab)