Media Release

CAAS Survey Shows Positive Trends in Safety Culture Across Singapore Aviation Sector

20 May 2026

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)’s second Singapore Aviation Sector Culture Survey[1] shows significant improvements in aviation safety culture across the sector. 77% of the 5,000 respondents across 400 companies[2] strongly agree or agree that the Singapore aviation sector has a positive safety culture, a 4% increase from the inaugural survey in 2023. The results from the 2025 survey, which was conducted between October and December 2025, were released at CAAS’s Aviation Safety Forum on 20 May 2026.

2 The Singapore Aviation Sector Safety Culture Survey was developed with the Netherlands Aerospace Centre. It is customised to the operating context in Singapore and comprises 65 questions across five dimensions: awareness, commitment, improvement, communication and trust. Please refer to the Annex A for details on the Singapore Aviation Safety Culture Framework and the Appendix for examples of survey statements pertaining to each of the dimensions.

3 The key findings of the sector-wide safety culture survey are:

(i) Safety culture has improved across all job roles – 89% (+5%) for senior management, 82% (+3%) for middle management, 74% (+5%) for operational personnel.

(ii) Safety culture has improved across all dimensions

a. AWARENESS: 85% (+2%) strongly agree or agree with statements that they are keenly aware of the safety risks that they are exposed to and may be generating for others.

b. COMMITMENT: 80% (+3%) strongly agree or agree with statements that they are committed that safety is a key consideration in decision-making and is given due priority when faced with other competing pressures.

c. IMPROVEMENT: 78% (+5%) strongly agree or agree with statements that they are driven to seek improvement in safety, recognising that safety is a continuous journey and not a destination.

d. COMMUNICATION: 76% (+5%) strongly agree or agree with statements that they communicate actively in the reporting, alerting and sharing of safety information.

e. TRUST: 65% (+3%) strongly agree or agree with statements that they trust one another that safety is the motivation of their actions and operate on a mutual understanding of acceptable behaviours.

(iii) Overall commitment to uphold safety is high and has further improved, with 91% (+3%) of respondents viewing it as important to follow regulations and procedures, even if doing so may delay operations.

(iv) Reporting culture has improved, with 95% (+2%) of respondents considering it important to report safety issues and 81% (+7%) knowing how to report safety issues through a voluntary safety reporting system.

Efforts to Drive Improvements in Safety Culture

4 The broad-based improvement in safety culture across the Singapore aviation sector is the result of active tripartite efforts by CAAS, aviation companies and union leaders to nurture a safety mindset, strengthen operational vigilance and encourage proactive safety reporting over the last two years, following the inaugural safety culture survey in 2023. Between 2024 and 2025, CAAS worked with companies and unions to conduct over 200 outreach sessions reaching out to over 5,000 workers in airside and operational functions; these were identified as areas of focus in the last survey.

5 In 2024, CAAS published a “Handbook on Aviation Safety Culture” (opens in new tab). Developed with tripartite partners, the handbook draws on insights from the inaugural survey and subsequent focus group sessions with management and operational personnel. Tailored to Singapore’s operating context, it provides practical Do’s and Don’ts to guide company management in fostering a psychologically safe and conducive environment for safety and for individuals to take ownership of their actions and uphold professional conduct with safety in mind. The handbook is developed to help build trust and clarify what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, another area of focus identified in the 2023 survey.

6 In the latest 2025 survey, 90% (+3%) of respondents indicated that it is clear to them what behaviours are acceptable and unacceptable, an improvement from 2023. Overall trust has also improved, with 65% (+3%) strongly agree or agree with statements that they trust one another that safety is the motivation of their actions and operate on a mutual understanding of acceptable behaviours.

7 Following the 2025 survey, CAAS will work with tripartite partners to draw lessons from the survey findings and develop new initiatives to further strengthen safety culture. These include, but are not limited to, developing more targeted training courses and reference materials in collaboration with the Singapore Aviation Academy and safety culture experts. These initiatives will provide additional support and resources to address key areas for improvement highlighted by the survey.

8 Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, said, “The improvement in safety culture across the whole sector over the last two years is the result of strong tripartite efforts and the dedication of aviation workers at every level. As air traffic grows and our operating environment becomes more complex, the sector must be even more vigilant to keep flying safe for all."

Encl:

[1] The sector-wide safety culture survey is conducted every two years to longitudinally monitor the sector’s safety culture, identify emerging trends and developments, and develop interventions as necessary.

[2] The companies included airlines, the aerodrome operator, ground handlers, maintenance organisations, design and production organisations, training organisations and freight forwarders across the sector.

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)
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).

For media queries, please contact:

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Email: caas_corporate_communications@caas.gov.sg (opens in new tab)