Singapore Aviation Sector Commits to Uphold Highest Safety Standards as Air Travel Recovers

CAAS launches Safety Charter; 80 aviation organisations sign charter, pledging to uphold safety as key priority and core value

             The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) launched the “Charter for a Strong and Positive Safety Culture in Singapore” at the annual Aviation Safety Forum which was held at the Pan Pacific Hotel today. 

Launch of the Singapore Aviation Safety Charter
2.         The “Charter for a Strong and Positive Safety Culture in Singapore” is the first-ever Safety Charter for the Singapore aviation sector. Recognising various safety-related challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Charter expresses the shared commitment by leaders in the sector to jointly uphold safety standards and strengthen safety culture in their respective organisations as air travel recovers. Signatories of the Charter pledge to:

• Uphold safety as a key priority and core value.

• Foster a strong and positive safety culture.

• Broaden and strengthen safety promotion, including in collaboration with other organisations.

• Encourage voluntary reporting of safety hazards, unsafe practices, and safety errors, and including self-disclosure of mistakes, slips, and lapses.

• Promote confidentiality and protection from punitive action for self-disclosure of safety lapses and mistakes, while not tolerating conduct that constitutes gross negligence, wilful misconduct or criminal activity.

• Contribute towards strengthening the collective aviation safety culture in Singapore.

(See Annex A for the full Charter.)

3.         To date, 80 aviation organisations have signed the Charter. They include major airlines, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul, design and production, and training organisations, airport operator, ground handlers, industry associations and unions (see Annex B for the full list of signatories). More organisations are expected to do so in the coming months.   

4.         Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, said, “Aviation safety must be a non-negotiable and the top priority of the Singapore aviation sector as air travel recovers and we ramp up operations. The Safety Charter is a statement of shared commitment, by leaders of the Singapore aviation sector, to uphold the highest safety standards as we work together to rebuild and reclaim Singapore’s position as a global air hub this year.” (See Annex C for Mr Han’s full keynote address at the forum.)

Findings from the Aviation Safety Culture Survey
5.         At the Aviation Safety Forum, the CAAS also presented the findings of the Aviation Safety Culture Survey. The Aviation Safety Culture Survey is Singapore’s first-ever industry-wide survey to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation safety culture and identify areas for improvement. The CAAS conducted the survey between 15 April and 25 June 2021. Over 1,300 personnel across seven aviation domains responded to the survey (see profile in the following Table). 

6.         The survey covered 71 questions across seven components: 1) individual’s commitment to safety; 2) organisation’s commitment to safety; 3) communication of safety information; 4) reporting of safety hazards and unsafe practices, and safety mistakes; 5) learning from safety reports; 6) voluntary reporting systems; and 7) adequacy of workplace resources.

7.         The survey found that the safety culture amongst companies and workers remains strong, notwithstanding challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic:

i) 99% agreed or strongly agreed that individual commitment to safety is high even amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

ii) 98% agreed or strongly agreed that organisation commitment to safety is high even amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

iii) 95% agreed or strongly agreed that there is good communication of safety information.

iv) 94% agreed or strongly agreed that there is a positive culture of reporting safety hazards and unsafe practices.

v) 89% agreed or strongly agreed that there is willingness to report safety mistakes.

vi) 95% agreed or strongly agreed that there is willingness to learn from safety reports and use voluntary reporting systems.

vii) 94% agreed or strongly agreed that workplace resources are adequate to support learning and working safely.

8.         The survey identified some specific areas of improvement, including the need to identify areas or circumstances where workers might find it difficult to perform their work both safely and well and to reinforce an environment where staff feel safe to report mistakes made. The CAAS is following up with the companies on the areas of improvement as part of its overall effort to strengthen safety culture and improve safety regimes in Singapore.

9.         The Aviation Safety Forum brings together over 200 leaders in the Singapore aviation sector in a physical meeting to discuss reviving air travel and key issues in aviation safety as the sector prepares for recovery. They include the top management of airlines, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul organisations, the airport operator, ground handlers, and various unions and associations in the aviation sector. 

Encl.

• Annex A – Charter for a Strong and Positive Safety Culture in Singapore

• Annex B – List of Signatories of the Charter

• Annex C – Keynote Address by Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, CAAS, at Aviation Safety Forum 2022

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.  The 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.