ATCOs are responsible for the safe and expeditious flow of air traffic through our busy skies at Changi and Seletar Airports as well as our airspace. As an ATCO, you must be able to multitask, remain composed under pressure and possess strong communication skills. Operational ATCOs need to hold a valid ATC License to perform the job.

ATCSOs, on the other hand, supports the ATCOs in ensuring the safe and efficient flow of air traffic at Changi Airport and in the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR). ATCSOs execute air traffic control coordination on aircraft requests and clearances, as well as analyse and communicate aeronautical and meteorological information to pilots. Proficiency Level training will be provided.

Please visit here to access the job application link.

You may apply 1 to 2 months prior to your available date.

We accept candidates from any discipline of studies for most of our positions. However, professional qualifications in the relevant field of study would be mandatory for positions such as engineers, accountants, legal counsels.

CAAS recognises qualifications accredited by the home government of the country where the institution is located.

Our positions are open to Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents.

Yes, you are required to take some assessment tests as part of the recruitment process. Additional tests such as aptitude tests may be required for certain positions like Air Traffic Control Officers and Air Traffic Control Support Officers.

CAAS ensures that the remuneration package offered remain competitive through regular review and benchmarking.

As an employee of CAAS, you will be entitled to various leave types, including vacation leave, family care leave and birthday leave. You will also receive subsidised rates for your outpatient medical care under the Medisave-Cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) Scheme.

CAAS is committed to provide learning opportunities to develop our officers to their full potential to contribute to our corporate objectives, whist enhancing personal growth and offer continuous learning through Education (eg Manager Development Programme), Exposure (eg study trips) and Experience (eg. Job rotations, Secondments).

The working hours are as follows:
Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 6.00pm
Friday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
Officers in the Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) and Air Traffic Control Support Officer (ATCSO) schemes of service will be required to perform shift-based working hours.

Our main office is located at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2. Within the airport, we also have offices located at Terminal 1, T2 North and South Pier.

Air Traffic Control Officers may be deployed to Seletar Control Tower, Changi Control Tower or Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre (SATCC).

Air Traffic Control Support Officers are deployed to Singapore Air Traffic Control Centres (SATCC).

For officers posted to the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA), your place of work will be located at 1 Aviation Drive (near Changi Village).

All officers of CAAS will be enrolled as members of the Changi Airport Recreation Club. The club is equipped with sports facilities, gym equipment and multi-purpose function rooms.

There are 2 intakes each year (estimated in February and August) for the ATCO position. The recruitment exercise will commence in September in the preceding year for February's intake and in March for August's intake. Interested applicants may apply directly through Careers@Gov during the application period, or you may access the link via this website.

All ATCO applicants will undergo a rigorous selection process, including selection interviews, aptitude tests, voice test and medical assessment. Candidates will be informed if they are shortlisted for the next round of test at each stage of the process.

We regret to inform that the position is only open to Singapore Citizens.

You are not required to hold an aviation related qualification as training will be provided, leading you to achieve a professional ATCO qualification.

Successful applicants start out as probationary ATCOs (PATCOs) and begin their training at the Singapore Aviation Academy.

The initial training to obtain the 1st ATC rating generally takes about 1 year. Probationary ATCOs will undergo the following training programmes:

i) Basic Theory Training (Primary Air Traffic Control Course);

ii) Simulator Training; and

iii) On-Job-Training at the respective units (depending on which stream the PATCO is in) for at least 4 months.

 

CAAS will sponsor your tuition and compulsory fees. Scholars will also receive allowances for cost relating to maintenance, settling in prior to studies and vacation attachment. The allowance rates are typically pegged to PSC scholarship rates for the various countries/universities of study.

You will need to serve a bond with CAAS upon completion of your university education.

The bond period for an overseas scholarship is 6 years and 4 years for a local scholarship.

Our scholars are able to indicate their preferred course of study at the university of their choice, including professional degrees in Law and Engineering, except for Medicine and Dentistry. However, do note that scholars who pursue law degrees will not be employed as practising lawyers during their service with CAAS. Upon graduation, scholars will serve their bond with CAAS as a Civil Aviation Officer and embark on a management career with a division of their choice.

The CAAS Undergraduate Scholarship is mainly tenable for undergraduate studies. Scholars who would like to do their Masters would typically have to complete both their undergraduate studies as well as Masters within 4 years. Any request to pursue Masters immediately after undergraduate studies will be subject to the organisation's approval. As a high performance organisation, CAAS also provides opportunities for in-service graduate officers to pursue post graduate studies later in their career.

Opportunities for job rotation are available for all officers to gain exposure to the wide spectrum of aviation-related work. Scholars may be deployed to different divisions at various stages of their career, depending on their career aspirations and organisational needs. There will also be opportunities for external secondment, such as to the Ministry of Transport or the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

There is no quota for the award of scholarships and the selection of scholars is based on merit and calibre.

Application will open in mid-December and close 2 weeks after the release of 'A' level results. You may apply with your prelim examinations results.

Only Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents will be considered. Permanent Residents will be required to take up a citizenship upon offer of the CAAS scholarship.

Yes, undergraduates in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd year of study, on track to graduate with at least 2nd upper class Honours or equivalent may submit their application for the Mid-term scholarship.

For CAAS Industrial Attachment Programme (IAP):
You will take on varied assignments or projects in one of the Divisions at CAAS and gain hands-on knowledge and experience in a wide spectrum of civil aviation matters.

Yes, you will be receiving a monthly allowance during your attachment / internship stint to defray your expenses. The allowance rates are competitive and are similar to the quantum given by other public service agencies.

Please submit your application online here.

A typical Industrial Attachment Programme (IAP) will require your committment for a minimum of 10-12 weeks. This is to ensure that you will have sufficient time to gain hands-on knowledge and experience in the various assignments / projects assigned. This programme is conducted all year round, subject to project availability.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified via phone and/or email.

Only Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents will be considered.

If you are a Singaporean or a Singapore Permanent Resident studying overseas, you can also apply for the IAP.

Arrangement will be made for shortlisted candidates to meet with the hiring manager and/or HR.

The working hours are as follows:
Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 6.00pm
Friday: 8.30am to 5.30pm

Our main office is located at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2. Within the airport, we also have offices located Terminal 1, T2 North and South Pier.

For students attached to the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA), your place of work will be located at 1 Aviation Drive (near Changi Village).

Yes, you are expected to report for work in appropriate office attire that gives an appearance of neatness and decorum. You may wear T-shirts and jeans only on Fridays.

All students on attachment / internship with CAAS will be enrolled as members of the Changi Airport Recreation Club. The club is equipped with sports facilities, gym equipment and multi-purpose function rooms.

The CAAS Personnel Licensing Office and CAMEC are now co-located at My PEL Hub, at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2, South Pier Level 3, #038-035. You may refer to the map for a visual guide to My PEL Hub.

Our mailing address is:

My PEL Hub
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2
South Finger Pier Level 3 #038-035
Singapore 819643

Our opening hours are:

 

Flight Crew Licensing

For the following applications and matters related to flight crew licensing, please visit CAPELS:

- Initial Licence Applications

o Student Pilot Licence (SPL)

o Private Pilot Licence (PPL)

o Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

o Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)

o Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)

- Endorsement of Ratings

o Addition of Aircraft/Group Ratings

o Application for Mixed Fleet Flying

o Reactivation of Lapsed Aircraft/Group Ratings

- Renewal of Licence

- Replacement of Licence

- Change of Licensee Particulars

- Submission of Test Results by Examiners

- Application for Flight Test

For other flight crew licensing matters, please click here.

Aircraft Maintenance Licensing

For applications and matters related to aircraft maintenance licensing, please visit CAPELS.

- Initial Licence Applications

- Renewal of Licence

- Reactivation of AML

- Replacement of Licence

- AML Foreign Licence Conversion

- Addition of (Sub)Category/Aircraft Rating

- Removal of Limitations

- Change of Licensee Particulars

The fees can be found in the Air Navigation Order Twelfth Schedule, Paragraphs 11, 12 and 13.

Payment can be made by credit card (VISA and MasterCard) or PayNow via CAPELS.

We do not accept payment by Nets or other credit cards (e.g. American Express, Diners Club etc).

Please inform the foreign licensing authority to write to CAAS at licence_verification@caas.gov.sg with the following information:

1. Name of licence holder;
2. Licence type and licence number;
3. Name and email address of the liaison officer/point of contact from the foreign licensing authority.

Please visit CAPELS and click on the "Update Details" tab to amend your particulars. 

You will be required to upload supporting document(s) (where applicable) for our verification:

Particulars to be amended	Document required
Name	Photo/scan of Deed poll / NRIC / Passport
Passport No.	Photo/scan of Passport
NRIC No.	Photo/scan of NRIC
Nationality	Photo/scan of Passport / NRIC
Postal Address	Photo/scan of NRIC or documentary evidence of residential address
Email Address	None
Mobile / Home phone no.	None
Photo	Passport-sized photo

You may log in to CAPELS, then select "View Application and History" on your homepage to view your licence application status and history.

There are no pre-requisites to sit for the CAAS examinations. Simply register for a candidate account at the CAAS Examination Portal, and book a timeslot for your examinations.

For the flight crew ground examination syllabus, please refer to this Advisory Circular AC FCL-7 (Ground Examination Syllabus for Pilot).

For the SAR-66 AML examination syllabus, please refer to Advisory Circular AC 66-13 (SAR-66 Basic Examinations).

Firstly, you will need to register for a CAPELS account if you have not already done so, as you would need the CAPELS Personal Identification Number (PID) to proceed with your account registration for the CAAS Examination.

After you have registered for your CAPELS account, you may then proceed to the CAAS Examination Portal to register for your CAAS Examination account.

Note:
Please register for your CAPELS account before 1800 hrs (SGT) if you wish to register for your CAAS Examination account on the same day. Otherwise, registration for the CAAS Examination account can only be done on the following day.

Once you have set up and are able to log in to your CAAS Examination account, you will be able to find the examination schedule in the portal and book your examination.

The examinations are in multiple-choice-question (MCQ) format except for the "M50" module paper (part of the AML examination), which requires candidates to answer in a written essay format.

The passing mark for the examinations is 75%.

You will need to log in to the CAAS Examination Portal to access your examination results. For essay examinations, your results will be released within 3 weeks from the date of your exam sitting. For all other examinations, your results will be released within 24 hours after the completion of your examinations.

You may log in to the CAAS Examination Portal to download and print your examination results.

The examinations are conducted at the CAAS Examination Centre in the Singapore Aviation Academy. The address is:

Singapore Aviation Academy
1 Aviation Drive
Room M1-25
Singapore 499867

The SPL allows aspiring pilots to fly as the sole occupant in a Singapore-registered aircraft during the course of training through a CAAS approved Flying Training Organisation or a flying club, to eventually obtain a pilot licence such as the Private Pilot Licence or Commercial Pilot Licence.

You have to be at least 16 years old (but below 65 years old) and have passed the Class 2 Medical Assessment with the Civil Aviation Medical Board (CAMB). Once you have passed the medical assessment, submit the online application for SPL through CAPELS.

The maximum validity of the SPL corresponds with the applicant's age, as follows:

• <40 years old - valid for 60 months
• =40 years old but <50 years old - valid for 24 months
• =50 years old but <60 years old - valid for 12 months
• =60 years old - valid for 6 months

The validity of the SPL starts from the date of issue or renewal of the applicant's Class 2 Medical Assessment, whichever is earlier.

The maximum age for holding an SPL is 65 years old.

You can renew your SPL online through CAPELS.

Do note that you are required to hold a valid Class 2 Medical Assessment issued by the Civil Aviation Medical Board (CAMB) in order to renew your SPL.

The PPL allows pilots to fly a Singapore-registered aircraft, for leisure.

The PPL is a licence that allows pilots to fly any Singapore-registered aircraft, for leisure purposes. With the PPL, pilots are permitted to fly out of Singapore.

In order to obtain a PPL, you would need to meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 17 years old
• Pass the Class 2 Medical Assessment with the Civil Aviation Medical Board (CAMB) or pass the Class 1 Medical assessment if you are applying for a PPL with Instrument Rating (IR)
• Pass the PPL examinations. You may apply for the examinations at the CAAS Examination Portal.
• Pass the PPL flight test. You may apply for the flight test on CAPELS.
• Meet the flying experience requirements stipulated in the Singapore Air Safety Publication (SASP) Part 1.

Aircraft ratings are qualifications that allow PPL holders to fly different types of aircraft. As a PPL holder, you may act as a Pilot-in-Command for the following aircraft groups:

• Group A: Single-engine aircraft not exceeding 5,700 kg in maximum total mass
• Group B: Multi-engine aircraft not exceeding 5,700 kg in maximum total mass
• Group C: A specific type of aircraft with a maximum total mass that exceeds 5,700 kg

The specific aircraft rating (A, B or C) you hold will be specified on the PPL.

The maximum validity of the PPL corresponds with the applicant's age, as follows:

• <40 years old - valid for 60 months
• =40 years old but <50 years old - valid for 24 months
• =50 years old but <60 years old - valid for 12 months
• =60 years old - valid for 6 months

A Restricted PPL is issued by CAAS to individuals who are unable to meet the navigation requirements of the PPL. The holder of such a licence is permitted to fly within Singapore only.

You may submit an application for a PPL (without navigation restrictions), if you have completed at least 5 hours of solo flying on cross-country flights. The 5 hours of solo flying should include a flight not less than 150 nautical miles, during which the holder has to make two intermediate stops within a day. One of the two stops made must be at least 50 nautical miles away from the aerodrome of departure.

You can renew your PPL online through CAPELS.

Do note that you are required to hold a valid Class 2 Medical Assessment issued by the Civil Aviation Medical Board (CAMB).

You can renew your C of E by flying a minimum of 5 hours, of which 2 hours must be under the instruction of a Flying Instructor. The flight(s) must be completed within the 12 months preceding the date of expiry of a C of E or Certificate of Test (C of T).

To apply for the renewal of your C of E for your PPL, you should submit the Application Form for Renewal of Certificate of Experience together with your certified correct logbook entries to:

If your C of E has lapsed, you are required to pass the PPL flight test for renewal.

You will need to submit the application form and supporting documents online in CAPELS.

In order to convert your foreign PPL, you must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a valid foreign PPL issued by an ICAO Contracting State. The PPL must remain valid throughout the conversion process.
• Be certified to at least an "Operational Level" (Level 4) on the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale.
• Pass the following examinations and tests:
  
  • Class 2 Medical Assessment or Class 1 Medical Assessment if a PPL with Instrument Rating (IR) is sought;
  • PPL Air Law and Operational Procedures examination;
  • PPL Human Performance examination; and
  • PPL flight test

All of the above requirements have to be completed within a 6-month period.
The detailed requirements can be found in the Singapore Air Safety Publication Part 1.

There are three types of professional pilot licences viz. Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL) and Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). These are meant for pilots who would like to pursue commercial flying as a career. The privileges of each licence are listed below:

 

Privileges	Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)	Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)	Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
Entitled to fly as Pilot-In-Command (PIC) (Single Pilot Operation)	Yes	No	Yes For those who have upgraded to an ATPL from an MPL, PIC privileges are not given for Groups A & B aircraft*
Entitled to fly as Co-pilot (Multi-crew Operation)	Yes Provided the licence holder has completed the ATPL examinations	Yes	Yes
Entitled to fly as Pilot-In-Command (PIC) (Multi-crew Operation)	No	No	Yes
Entitled to conduct instrument flying	No Instrument flying privileges are not included in the licence privileges. To conduct instrument flying, an Instrument Rating has to be obtained separately.	Yes	Yes

*Group A aircraft: Single-engine aircraft not exceeding 5,700 kg in maximum total mass

Group B aircraft: Multi-engine aircraft not exceeding 5,700 kg in maximum total mass.

You may undergo training with any of the CAAS-approved Aviation Training Organisations.

The requirements vary for each licence, as listed below:

Requirement	Commercial Pilot Licence	Multi-crew Pilot Licence (MPL)	Air Transport Pilot Licence
Minimum Age	18 years old	18 years old	21 years old
Medical Requirement	Pass Class 1 Medical Assessment with the Civil Aviation Medical Board (CAMB).
Language Proficiency	Demonstrate sufficient command of the English language for radio-telephony communications. The minimum level of proficiency is an "Operational Level" (Level 4) of the ICAO Language Proficiency Rating Scale.
Ground Examinations	Pass examinations at the CPL level; or Pass examinations at the ATPL level if you wish to conduct multi-crew flight operations	Pass examinations at the ATPL level	Pass examinations at the ATPL level
Flying Experience Requirements	Meet the flying experience requirements stipulated in Chapter 4 of the Singapore Air Safety Publication (SASP) Part 2.
Pass the Test Flight	Yes	Yes	Yes

The maximum validity of the licence corresponds with the holder's age and type of operation, as follows:

• 6 months if the licence holder is:
  
  • = 40 years old and is engaged in single-crew public transport of passengers; or
  • = 60 years old.
• 12 months for any other case

The validity of a professional pilot licence starts from the date of issue or renewal of the applicant's Class 1 Medical Assessment, whichever is earlier.

You can renew your professional pilot licence electronically through CAPELS.

Do note that you are required to hold a valid Class 1 Medical Assessment issued by the Civil Aviation Medical Board, and demonstrate competency in flying, in order to renew your licence.

You will need to submit the application and supporting documents online in CAPELS.

In general, to convert your foreign professional pilot licence, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old for CPL (or 21 years old for ATPL) and below 65 years old.
• Demonstrate the need to hold a Singapore licence such as obtaining a formal letter from a Singapore air operator or approved aviation organisation indicating prospective employment in a flying capacity.
• Hold a valid foreign professional pilot licence, relevant Medical Assessment and valid Radiotelephony Licence
• Produce the appropriate theoretical knowledge examination results (e.g. CPL or ATPL level) completed with the foreign licensing authority.
• Meet the flying experience requirements stipulated in Chapter 11 of the Singapore Air Safety Publication (SASP) Part 2.

As part of the conversion process, you will be required to complete certain examinations, English language assessment and flight test(s). More detailed information can be found in Chapter 11 of the Singapore Air Safety Publication (SASP) Part 2.

If you do not have the English Language Proficiency endorsement in your Singapore licence, you will have to undergo an English Language Screening for Level 6 proficiency, or undergo a formal Aviation English Competency Test (AECT).

The English Language Screening is conducted by CAAS-authorised language screeners within the air operators, approved Aviation Training Organisations, and flying clubs in Singapore.

If you are assessed to be below the required language proficiency level, you will be required to undergo the Aviation English Competency Test (AECT).

The Aviation English Competency Test (AECT) is a test administered by CAAS, where CAAS-authorised language testers assess your English proficiency through scenario-based dialogues. The testers will assess your English language proficiency.

The AECT is conducted at the Regional Language Centre (RELC). Please visit RELC's website to register for the AECT.

To qualify for an AML, you must meet the following requirements:

• be at least 21 years of age;
• be able to read, write and communicate in English to an understandable level necessary for the technical work of an aircraft maintenance engineer; and
• be able to demonstrate a need to hold the licence (i.e. your application must be supported by an approved aircraft maintenance organisation or a Singapore air operator).

In addition, you will need to pass the relevant SAR-66 examinations (see Advisory Circular AC 66-13 (SAR-66 Basic Examinations)) and demonstrate sufficient experience with a Schedule of Experience (SOE) (see Advisory Circular AC 66-2 Guide to Compilation of Schedule of Experience and On-The-Job Training), applicable to the category of AML you are applying for. Details can be found in the Singapore Airworthiness Requirements (SAR) Part 66.

You will need to submit an application online in CAPELS.

You should submit your application to renew your AML at least 1 week before your licence expires to avoid having your licence lapse while the renewal is being processed.

You may apply to renew your AML up to 3 months before its expiry. The existing anniversary date of your AML will be retained if it is renewed within this 3-month period. However, if you apply to renew your AML earlier than 3 months before its expiry, the validity of your renewed licence will start from the date of the early renewal.

You will need to submit an application online in CAPELS to renew your AML.

Please refer to this Advisory Circular AC 66-10 (Conversion of Foreign Aircraft Maintenance Licence) for details.

You may apply for a reissuance of AML if your licence has lapsed. Please refer to this Advisory Circular AC 66-11 (Reissuance of an Aircraft Maintenance Licence) for details.

Please refer to Advisory Circular AC 66-12 (Acceptable Type Training Conducted By Organisations Not Holding SAR-147 Approval for Type Rating Endorsement on an Aircraft Maintenance Licence) and Advisory Circular AC 66-5 (Aircraft Types Acceptable for Endorsement on a SAR-66 Aircraft Maintnance Licence) for details.

ELMeRS is the acronym for the Electronic Licensing Medical Records System. It is serves as the one-stop e-portal for all matters relating to medical fitness certification (termed as Medical Assessment) for Flight Crew or Air Traffic Controller (ATC) licence holders.

Yes, a fee is payable to CAAS upon application for a Medical Assessment for pilot licence applicants/holders. This is referred to as the 'Fee for Medical Evaluation' in paragraph 12(2)(h) of the Twelfth Schedule of the Air Navigation Order. The fee would also cover any follow-up monitoring or ad hoc requirements for the licence holder to maintain his/ her Medical Assessment during the period of validity. This fee is to be paid online when you apply for a Medical Assessment via the ELMeRS portal. You will have to pay your Designated Medical Examiner (DME) separately for his/her professional services provided in conducting the medical examinations and investigations for you. The DME's charges are not under the purview of CAAS.

There are 3 MACs. The required MAC for the respective licences are as follows:

1) Class 1 - for Airline Transport Pilot Licence (aeroplanes, helicopters and gyroplanes), Commercial Pilot Licence (aeroplanes, helicopters, gyroplanes and airships), Multi-crew Pilot Licence (aeroplanes), Private Pilot Licence (PPL) with Instrument Rating

2) Class 2 - for Private Pilot Licence (aeroplanes, helicopters and gyroplanes, balloons and airships), Student Pilot Licence & Commercial Pilot Licence  (balloons and gliders); 

3) Class 3 - for Air Traffic Controllers

You may apply for more than 1 MAC if necessary. For more information, you may refer to the information published on the CAAS website under Flight Crew Licensing.

The fee for medical evaluation is a regulatory fee levied on applicants to cover the cost for CAAS to perform the medical evaluation, certification and oversight activities for the issuance, renewal and maintenance of the Medical Assessment applied for.   This fee is set out in Paragraph 12(2)(h) of the Twelfth Schedule of the Air Navigation Order.

The fee for medical evaluation covers the evaluation and certification of the applicant’s fitness (or otherwise) to be issued the class of Medical Assessment applied for.  If the applicant is issued the Medical Assessment, the fee would also cover any follow up monitoring or ad hoc requirement needed by the holder to maintain his/her Medical Assessment during its period of validity.  These requirements include consultations, aeromedical review for clearance to resume duties after a decreased medical fitness period, functional evaluation, Special Board for accredited medical conclusions, and any other necessary interventions undertaken by the Medical Assessors or Aviation Medicine Physician in the Civil Aviation Medical Board.  The fee does not cover any medical or laboratory investigations required for the above listed processes.

You will need to pay the fee for medical evaluation every time you submit an application for Medical Assessment.

The CAAS adopts the Activity Based Costing approach where all costs that are specific to Medical Assessment activity such as medical evaluation, certification and maintenance processes and the oversight of the Medical Assessment system are computed into the fee.  The costs include the implementation and maintenance of the IT system, the Electronic Licensing Medical Records System (ELMeRS), that supports the processes.

The fee for medical evaluation is reviewed at least once every three years in accordance with the Ministry of Finance requirement.  However, the CAAS would only allow an increase in the fee when there is justifiable increase in the cost of supporting the Medical Assessment system.

You are given a window of 45 days before the expiry of your current licence to initiate your Medical Assessment, to ensure it will be processed and issued on time for the licence renewal. You are encouraged to do so as early as possible within the 45-days window.

If you undergo your medical examination more than 45 days before the expiry of your current licence, the validity period of your new certificate will begin on the month preceding the current expiry.

If you undergo your medical examination after the expiry of the current licence, the validity period of your new certificate will begin on the date when the examination is conducted.

Yes, you can renew a lapsed Medical Assessment within 12 months from its expiry by undergoing a 'Renewal' licensing medical examination. However, once the Medical Assessment has expired for more than 12 months, you will need to apply for an 'Initial' grant of Medical Assessment by undergoing an 'Initial' licensing medical examination.

Please be reminded that licence holders shall not exercise the privileges of their licences unless they hold a valid Medical Assessment certificate.

The medical questionnaire in the application for Medical Assessment process is named the Health Event Declaration (HED). If you are uncertain about any part of the HED, please answer them to the best of your knowledge in order to complete your online application. Your DME will review your answers with you as part of the Licensing Medical Examination (LME) process. Please do take that chance to clarify any doubts and seek your DME's guidance before he/she confirms the information declared in the HED for your signing as a legal declaration.

Any Medical Report that is submitted to CAAS forms the legal evidence on which your Medical Assessment is determined. Hence, the CAAS will not accept reports that are lacking in pertinent information for the Medical Assessment. Do communicate the following guidelines to your treating physician to ensure that the report adheres to them:

• If a current/latest medical/investigation report is required, it has to be dated within 90 days prior to submission. Older reports can be submitted for the purpose of providing historical information about your condition.
• Handwritten reports are acceptable only if they are legible and contains proofs of authenticity, e.g. clinic stamp, physician stamp, physician MCR number, clinic address, etc.
• The medical report is to contain adequate details on the following:
  
  • Comprehensive information (clinical and investigations) during presentation of condition, subsequent progress and trend, and latest status of the medical condition.
  • The treatment and/or surgical procedures administered for the condition
  • Current medications, therapy and follow up plan.
  • Comments on prognosis or risk of incapacitating events due to the primary condition
• The medical report is not to contain any opinion of your aeromedical fitness unless the treating physician is accredited as an Aviation Medicine Physician in the Specialist Registry of the Ministry of Health.

The fee for medical evaluation paid to the CAAS does not cover the professional and investigation fees charged by the DME.  The DME has to collect his/her professional fee as well as any investigation fees from the applicant directly.

The DME's fees and prices are not determined by the CAAS.

Yes. A softcopy receipt will be generated for you by ELMeRS upon the successful payment of the fee for medical evaluation made online during the application process.  You can find a copy of the receipt in the “Documents” tab within your Profile section in ELMeRS.

Yes, the fee for medical evaluation is refundable if the CAAS has not received your medical examination report from the DME for processing and evaluation.

The reimbursement will depend on the policy of your prospective/current employer.

No, the CAAS does not levy an additional fee for processing the Aeromedical Review.  However, your DME would be charging a professional fee for conducting the aeromedical review submission for you.

You can monitor your application for a Medical Assessment on the dashboard of your ELMeRS account, under the “Progress Tracker” section.

A CAAS licence holder who knows or has reason to believe that his/ her physical condition renders him/her temporarily unfit to perform any of the functions to which his/her licence relates as spelt out in Para 20(7) or Para 62(E) of the Air Navigation Order, will need to report DMF to CAAS.

You should visit your DME for a consultation as the DME will be able to advise you accordingly. Meanwhile, you should not exercise the privileges of your licence until you have clarified your doubts with your DME.

You should report your DMF status as soon as possible and prior to undergoing any medical treatment. To report DMF, log in to your ELMeRS account and go to “Notification of Decrease in Medical Fitness”. You will receive an acknowledgement letter which will include instructions not to exercise the privileges of your CAAS licence, as well as the reinstatement process.

You will be required to visit a DME for an Aeromedical Review to be conducted. With the relevant submitted medical records and medical examination, the DME can then submit a recommendation to CAMB for an assessment.

No, CAAS does not levy an additional fee for processing the Aeromedical Review. However, your DME would charge a professional fee for conducting the Aeromedical Review for you.

You will receive a medical clearance letter from CAMB in your ELMeRS account under the “Documents” tab in your Profile section, which could also state any restrictions or provisos that are imposed with the new Medical Assessment status.

An applicant registering an aircraft in Singapore must satisfy the eligibility criteria stated in the Air Navigation Order (ANO) paragraph 4, which states that:

1) Any previous registration of the aircraft outside Singapore shall cease upon the aircraft being registered in Singapore.

2) The owner of the aircraft belongs to one of the following categories:

a. the Singapore Government;

b. citizens of Singapore;

c. citizens of any Commonwealth country; and

d. bodies incorporated in Singapore or in some part of the Commonwealth and having their principal place of business in some part of the Commonwealth.

The cost to register an aircraft can be found in the ANO 12th Schedule paragraph 1, which states the registration fee to be $55 for aircraft with maximum total weight not exceeding 3,000 kg. For aircraft exceeding 3,000 kg, a flat fee of $55 plus $6.60 per 1,000 kg or part thereoff in excess of 3,000 kg applies.

Applications shall be made on Form CAAS(AW) 39 accompanied by particulars and evidence relating to the aircraft and its ownership and submitted to:

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Flight Standards Division
Singapore Changi Airport
P O Box 1
Singapore 918141

The list of Singapore-registered (civil) aircraft and their operators, which is updated on a monthly basis, can be found here.

Note: Civil aircraft refer to non-military aircraft.

It is not mandatory for aircraft/helicopters to be operated in Singapore airspace to be registered in Singapore. However, the aircraft/helicopter must be registered with an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Contracting State and have a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.

You may apply for a Singapore Airworthiness Requirement Part 21 (SAR-21) DOA or POA through CAAS’ Enterprise Safety Oversight System (eSOMS) portal. Information on the conditions and requirements for the respective applications can be found on the eSOMS portal as well.

For new applications, there will be an initial processing time fee of $360. A certificate fee of $1,100 is applicable for each branch of the applicant’s organisation in a different geographical location. In addition, a $120/man-hour fees for local audit and $900/day fee for overseas audit will be applicable. This is in accordance with the fees stated in the Air Navigation Order - Twelfth Schedule Paragraph 6AA of the Twelfth Schedule.

The typical processing time is not more than four (4) months. This includes the time taken to assess where the applying organisation would need to demonstrate compliance with SAR-21 requirements. The processing time is dependent on the quality comprehensiveness of the documents submitted. More information on this can be found in Information Circular “IC 05/17” .

The Quality Manager should be a senior staff who has the responsibility for internal quality assurance. He should have direct access to the accountable manager on matters affecting safety. This person should also meet the following additional requirements: 

The Design Signatory should meet the following requirements:

The Certifying Staff should meet the following requirements:

A major modification or repair is one that might appreciably affect weight, balance, structural strength, performance, power plant operation, flight characteristics or other qualities affecting airworthiness; or one that is not done according to accepted practices or elementary operations. All other modifications or repairs are categorised as "minor".

Additional information can be found in Advisory Circular AC21-1(3), including the detailed criteria for the classification of major and minor modification or repair in Appendix A.

You would need to hold a SAR-21 Design Organisation Approval (DOA) before applying for a STC, STSO, RDA or minor modification. Application for design approvals for STSO may be performed through CAAS’ Enterprise Safety Oversight System (eSOMS) portal, while those for STC, RDA or minor modifications will be processed directly by CAAS officers assigned to the organisation.

The WA-AC establishes a reciprocal arrangement between the two organisations to validate and accept each other’s design certifications and approvals of aircraft parts, aircraft modifications and repairs. In addition, Design Organisation Approval (DOA) holders will no longer need to hold duplicate CAAS and EASA Approvals to operate in both Singapore and Europe. The number of regulatory inspections will be reduced, resulting in time and cost savings for the aviation industry on both sides. Air operators and other industry stakeholders from both Europe and Singapore will benefit from this arrangement. More information on the WA-AC can be found in Advisory Circular AC 21-5(0).

An applicant, who intends to apply for a SAR-145 Maintenance Organisation Approval, needs to show cause to CAAS by producing satisfactory grounds for application of such approval. Satisfactory grounds include a Letter of Intent from a Singapore air operator or an existing SAR-145 Approved Maintenance Organisation. Once the applicant is assessed to be eligible, the applicant can proceed to apply for a SAR-145 Maintenance Organisation Approval formally through CAAS' Enterprise Safety Oversight System (eSOMS) portal.

A Quality Manager should possess at least the following qualifications:

a) Possess at least 2 years’ experience in quality assurance in a related aviation environment,

b) Pass the CAAS Air Legislation examination paper,

c) Hold an aircraft maintenance engineer’s license (or its equivalent) recognised by CAAS, for organisation maintaining aircraft, and

d) Preferably have a relevant degree or diploma in a relevant discipline.

Note: For overseas organisations, CAAS typically accepts the nomination of a Quality Manager approved by the National Aviation Authority.

Please refer to the following Advisory Circulars for the requirements for nominated certifying staff:

a) Advisory Circular AC 145-2 Initial Qualification Requirements for Certifying Staff.
b) Advisory Circular AC 145-8 Authorisation of Line Maintenance Certifying Staff.
c) Advisory Circular AC 66-9 Acceptance of Foreign Aircraft Maintenance Licenses for SAR-145 Maintenance Facilities outside Singapore.

The Advisory Circulars can be obtained here.

Passengers are permitted to use PEDs on board aircraft, subject to the prevailing regulations*. Airlines may additionally apply a more restrictive policy on the use of PEDs and the permissible times, conditions and limitations of use.

Information on airlines’ PED policies may be found on their websites, in their safety information cards and/or in-flight magazines. Passengers are advised to pay attention to in-flight announcements for instructions in the use of PEDs, and to also check with their airlines before travelling if in doubt.

The usage of PEDs onboard is generally safe on most aircraft types as verified by aircraft and PED manufacturers who have performed analyses on their usage. Before airlines permit the usage of PEDs, they must confirm that their aircraft can safely handle interference from PEDs.

More information on the use of PEDs can also be found here.

*Please refer to Regulations 10, 11 & 13 of Air Navigation Regulation 121. For additional guidance, refer to the relevant Advisory circular here.

Examples of common items that can be hand carried in board an aircraft are:

• Portable medical and electronic devices such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops and tablets.
• Spare lithium batteries (including power banks) for electronic devices. Passengers are not allowed to carry more than two and they must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.
• Toiletries and cosmetics such as hair sprays, perfumes and medicines containing aerosols, alcohol or liquids, provided that each container does not exceed 100ml and the total quantity in all the containers does not exceed 1 litre. All the containers should be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag which must be completely sealed.
• Alcoholic beverages in retail packaging and which do not exceed 70% alcohol by volume.

More information can be found here.

Some aircraft are equipped with emergency exits located near the wings of the aircraft, also known as overwing emergency exits or self-help exits. In line with international best practice, these exits are not required to be manned by crew. However, these exits may be operated by passengers seated adjacent to these exits. Only passengers who are capable of operating and willing to assist with operating the exit in the event of an emergency can be allocated the seats at these exits. Such passengers will receive a safety briefing before take-off on the emergency procedures to operate the exits.

For more information, please refer to Regulation 17 and Regulation 18 of Air Navigation Regulation - 121. For additional guidance, refer to Advisory Circular - AC 121-1-1.

Over-wing emergency exits, also referred to as self-help exits, may not be manned by cabin crew. Airlines have the discretion to manage the seating of their passengers at such exits if they have established procedures to ensure expeditious evacuation if required. Passengers seated at these exits may be required to operate the exits and are required to be briefed on the operation of these exits before take-off and if required, before landing.

For more information, please refer to Regulation 17 and Regulation 18 of Air Navigation Regulation - 121. For additional guidance, refer to Advisory Circular - AC 121-1-1.

The total weight of the cabin luggage within each overhead compartment must not exceed the weight limit of the compartment. CAAS requires airlines to ensure that loading instructions and training be provided to its staff to ensure that the weight limitations of the overhead compartments are adhered to.

Airlines have the discretion to set the weight limit of hand luggage that can be carried into the cabin by each passenger as long as they meet CAAS’s safety requirements. Passengers should therefore check with their airlines on the weight limit of their hand luggage.

For more information, please refer to Regulation 16 of Air Navigation Regulation - 91 and Regulation 9 of Air Navigation Regulation – 121. For additional guidance, refer to Advisory Circular AC121-1-1.

Passenger safety briefings may vary, depending on the aircraft type*. It is therefore important to pay attention to the passenger safety briefing for every flight. More information can be found here.

*Please refer to Regulation 20 of Air Navigation Regulation - 91, and Regulation 18 of Air Navigation Regulation - 121. For additional guidance, refer to Advisory Circular - AC 121-1-1.

For the safety of toddlers, during taxi, take off and landing as well as and turbulent weather:

• Toddlers below the age of two are to be held by an adult who is occupying a seat and who has the child securely restrained with a child restraint device; and
• Toddlers aged two years and above are to be properly secured in their seats by the seat belt provided for the seat or is occupying a seat equipped with an approved child restraint system.

Travellers are advised to check with their airline if they require information on the types of appropriate child restraint systems approved to be used on board for toddlers of both age groups.

More information can be found under Regulation 51 of Air Navigation Regulation - 91 and Regulation 87 of Air Navigation Regulation - 121.

For additional guidance, please refer to Advisory Circular AC 121-6-3 - Acceptable Child Restraint Devices.

The right bracing position is dependent on the seat location. It is therefore important for passengers to pay attention to the safety instructions given by cabin crew, and practise the brace method as directed. If in doubt, ask for guidance or refer to the airline’s safety information card. Always review the bracing methods before each take-off and landing, taking note of the following general guidelines:-

For seats with ample leg room (seat or partition in front of you is beyond reach):

• Sit as far back as possible;
• Fasten your seat belt in a low position across your hips and tighten it firmly, ensuring that it is not twisted;
• Place your feet together flat on the floor as far back toward the seat as possible;
• Tuck your chin inwards towards your chest;
• Lean forward as far as possible with your chest as close as possible to your knees;
• Either place your hands on top of your head or place arms at sides of lower legs or hold on to your lower legs and keep your head as low as possible; and
• Always keep your head down and remain in bracing position until directed otherwise by the cabin crew members.

For seats with limited leg room (seat or partition in front of you is within reach):

• Sit as far back as possible;
• Fasten your seat belt in a low position across your hips and tighten it firmly, ensuring that it is not twisted;
• Place your feet together flat on the floor as far back toward the seat as possible;
• Tuck your chin inwards towards your chest;
• Lean forward as far as possible;
• Place head against the seatback of the seat in front or any sturdy partition that may be in front of you;
• Place your hands on the top of your head and keep your arms as close as possible to the sides of your face; and
• Keep your head down and cradled in your arms and remain in bracing position until directed otherwise by the cabin crew member.

Illustrations extracted from ICAO Doc 10086-Manual on Information and Instructions for Passenger Safety

These are general bracing techniques. Airlines' cabin crew, when required, will provide detailed guidance to passengers on the bracing methods, bearing in mind the specific needs of some passengers, e.g. pregnant mothers or mothers with babies. Also, passengers should note that besides knowing how and when to brace, they must also ensure that their seat belt is correctly fastened, their seat back is upright, and their tray table, video screen and footrest are stowed in an emergency.

Window shades are required to be kept open during taxi, take-off and landing for the following reasons:

• To allow cabin crew a quicker and clearer view of the developing conditions and/or dangers outside the aircraft during an emergency.


• To allow passengers a clear view of what is happening outside the aircraft:
  
  
  • so as to quickly alert the crew members, should they notice an emergency or anything out of the ordinary, (e.g. sparks coming out of the wing area, fuel leaks, fire in the engine, snow build-up on the wings, etc.)
  
  
  • so as to have a better awareness of what is happening outside the aircraft during an emergency and be able to better orientate themselves, keeping clear of danger.
  
  
  • to allow rescuers, in an emergency, to clearly see the inside of the aircraft cabin so that they can better assess the overall situation.

There are several reasons why lifevests are to be inflated just before exiting the aircraft:

• Inflating life vests within the cabin will create hindrances and slow down the evacuation of passengers during an emergency.
• Passengers may not be able to manoeuvre through smaller emergency overwing exits with their inflated life vests. Also, the life vests may also become damaged in the process and will not be able to serve their purpose in water.
• Inflated life vests are also very stiff and will keep passengers' necks in an upright position, impeding their ability to brace on impact.
• If a cabin becomes engulfed with rising water during an emergency landing on water, passengers may become trapped inside a cabin as an inflated lifevest will prevent a passenger from being able to dive underwater to reach exits.

Studies have shown that during an emergency evacuation, it is critical that all passengers and crew evacuate the aircraft within 90 seconds. Seconds wasted to retrieve luggage can seriously degrade the evacuation process, endangering not only one’s life, but also that of fellow passengers. For example:

• Retrieving luggage and trying to escape with cumbersome luggage will slow down and hinder the evacuation flow and process.
• The chances of fire and smoke during any emergency landing is high, so slowing the evacuation flow can lead to evacuating passengers becoming incapacitated through smoke inhalation.
• Abandoned luggage can become obstructions or tripping hazards and cause escaping passengers to be knocked over and incapacitated.
• Metal parts of the luggage may also cause damage to the evacuation slide.

More information can be found here.

Smoking is strictly prohibited on Singapore-registered aircraft. Passengers, if found guilty, could face a fine (not exceeding $5,000) or imprisonment (not exceeding 12 months) or both.

Passengers are also reminded that the use of e-cigarettes is also banned from use on all Singapore registered aircraft.

More information can be found here or in Section 8B of the Air Navigation Act.

There are restrictions on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels in cabin baggage based on recommendations issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Liquids, aerosols and gels are allowed in hand-carry baggage, provided that each container does not exceed 100ml and the total quantity in all the containers does not exceed 1 litre. All the containers should be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag which must be completely sealed. More information can be found here.

CAAS does not regulate carriage of toy guns in hand-carry luggage. You are advised to check with your airline when purchasing your tickets or when checking in at the airport.

Examples of common items that can be hand carried on board an aircraft are:

• a. Portable medical and electronic devices such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops and tablets.


• b. Spare lithium batteries (including power banks) for electronic devices. Passengers are not allowed to carry more than two lithium batteries and they must be individually protected to prevent short circuits.


• c. Toiletries and cosmetics such as hair sprays, perfumes and medicines containing aerosols, alcohol or liquids, provided that each container does not exceed 100ml and the total quantity in all the containers does not exceed 1 litre. All the containers should be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag which must be completely sealed.


• d. Alcoholic beverages, provided they are in retail packaging and do not exceed 70% alcohol by volume.

More information can be found here.

Spare lithium batteries, including power banks, containing lithium batteries are not permitted to be carried in check-in baggage. They must be carried in hand-carry baggage into the cabin. Passengers are not allowed to carry more than two batteries, and they must be individually protected to prevent short circuits e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch. More information can be found here.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) containing rechargeable lithium batteries (not exceeding 100 watt-hour capacity each) may be carried in your baggage.

If the batteries are installed in the UAS, it may be carried in both checked or hand-carry baggage. However, if the batteries are removed, or if you are intending to carry spare batteries, such batteries must be carried in hand-carry baggage only.

Spare batteries must also be individually protected by insulating terminals to prevent short circuits, e.g. by taping over exposed terminals or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch.

Airlines must apply for a Dangerous Goods permit from CAAS in order to carry Dangerous Goods as cargo into and out of Singapore. Application forms can be downloaded here.

Yes, airlines transporting Dangerous Goods to, from or through Singapore must apply to CAAS for a Dangerous Goods permit prior to transporting dangerous goods as cargo on their aircraft. More information can be found in the Air Navigation Order – Paragraph 50D.

Although certain Dangerous Goods (such as dry ice used as a refrigerant for non-dangerous goods items, or those meeting the requirements for Dangerous Goods in excepted quantities) may be transported without a Dangerous Goods shipper’s declaration, they are still classified as Dangerous Goods according to the regulations. Thus, they must be declared on the airway bill, and handled and transported according to the instructions within the Air Navigation Order and ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.

Authorisation from the State of the Operator is required for airlines intending to transport such Dangerous Goods. The airline will also be required to apply for a Dangerous Goods permit from CAAS to transport such Dangerous Goods to and from Singapore.

More information on the carriage of Dangerous Goods can be found here.

Passengers, travel agents, shippers and cargo agents may also approach airlines for more information on the carriage of Dangerous Goods by air , or, send their enquiries to CAAS_dangerousgoods@caas.gov.sg.

Prior to the transportation of Dangerous Goods as cargo on its aircraft, the airline is required to apply for the Dangerous Goods permit from CAAS.

To ensure that shippers, operators and its agents receive Dangerous Goods training in accordance with the regulations, service providers intending to offer Dangerous Goods training are required to seek approval from CAAS for its Dangerous Goods training programme.

CAAS does not grant approvals to Dangerous Goods instructors. However, when granting training programme approvals to service providers, CAAS will verify the qualifications of its nominated instructors against the requirements in the regulations, and specify in the letter of approval the instructors qualified to conduct the approved training programmes.

A permit is not required for the carriage of munitions of war on a civil aircraft to or from Singapore. However, a permit is required for the carriage of dangerous goods transported as cargo. If the munitions of war that are classified as dangerous goods are intended to be transported as cargo, airlines must apply for a Dangerous Goods Permit from CAAS.

The airline should apply for Munitions of War permit only. The Dangerous Goods permit is not applicable.

Note: Under the Arms and Explosives Act of the Singapore Police Force, an Arms and Explosives (A&E) licence is required for shippers or consignees who wish to export or import arms and ammunition from or into Singapore. For more information, please refer to the A&E licence page in the Singapore Police Force website.

A permit from CAAS is not required for the carriage of munitions of war (sporting weapons and ammunitions) by passengers in baggage.

However, if you wish to carry weapons and ammunitions to or from Singapore in checked baggage, you should seek authorisation from the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department of the Singapore Police Force. You may refer to the Singapore Police Force website for more information.

You should also notify your airline at the time of ticket purchase or prior to arrival at the airport of your intention to carry weapons or ammunitions in your checked baggage.

When flown or operated within 5km of an airport or an airbase, kites and parasails may distract pilots while they are operating the aircraft. Furthermore, if these items are ingested by aircraft engines, they can cause engine damage and endanger lives. Thus, the conduct of these activities within 5km of an airport or an airbase is not allowed unless a permit has been obtained from CAAS. Applications for such a permit will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

However, you may fly a kite or operate a parasail outside 5km of any airport or airbase no higher than 200 feet above mean sea level. Otherwise, the following requirements must be met:

Area	Height	Requirement
Within 5km of any airport or airbase	Height limit subject to safety assessment	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required
Outside 5km of any airport or airbase	Higher than 200 feet above mean sea level	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required

Flying kites in the following areas is restricted due to the potential hazard posed by such activities to aircraft in flight.

Areas within 5km of Changi Airport and Paya Lebar Airport:

Changi
Pasir Ris
Tampines
Simei
Bedok
Eunos
East Coast Park

Areas within 5km of Seletar Airport:

Seletar
Yishun
Ang Mo Kio
Yio Chu Kang
Seletar Reservoir

Areas within 5km of Sembawang Airbase

Sembawang
Woodlands
Mandai

Areas within 5km of Tengah Airbase:

Choa Chu Kang
Boon Lay
Jurong West

You may go to the CAAS website at https://www.caas.gov.sg/e-services-forms/e-services/application-for-aerial-activities to submit an e-application. Please submit your application 7 working days before the conduct of this activity. This is to allow for adequate processing time to co-ordinate with other government agencies, such as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

It is an offence to fly a kite or parasail without a permit:

Within 5km of an airport or an airbase; and/or
Above the allowable height limits.

Anyone convicted of such an offence may be fined up to $20,000. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $40,000, or imprisoned for up to 15 months, or both.

Captive balloons that are usually helium-filled and measure up to 3 meters in any linear dimension may pose a threat to aircraft safety. Although anchored to stationary points, if released, these balloons may drift to heights that could affect aircraft operations.

As such, hoisting of captive balloons is allowed subject to the following restrictions:

Area/Height	Up to 130 feet	Up to 290 feet	Above 290 feet
Within 1km of the flight funnels* of an airport or an airbase	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required
Outside of the flight funnels* within 5km of an airport or an airbase	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required
Outside 5km of an airport or an airbase	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required

* The flight funnel of an airport or an airbase is the volume of airspace enclosing the path taken by aircraft when taking off from and landing at an airport or airbase.

A captive balloon has to be securely anchored to a stationary point. The captive balloon that has been hoisted must be fitted with a mechanism which destroys the balloon if it breaks free or it must be attended to at all times.

You may go to the CAAS website at https://www.caas.gov.sg/e-services-forms/e-services/application-for-aerial-activities to submit an e-application. Please submit your application 7 working days before the conduct of this activity. This is to allow for adequate processing time to co-ordinate with other government agencies, such as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

It is an offence to hoist a captive balloon if the following conditions are not met:

 

Area/Height	Up to 130 feet	Up to 290 feet	Above 290 feet
Within 1km of the flight funnels* of an airport or an airbase	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required
Outside of the flight funnels* within 5km of an airport or an airbase	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required
Outside 5km of an airport or an airbase	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required

 

Anyone convicted of such an offence may be fined up to $20,000. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $40,000, or imprisoned for up to 15 months, or both.

Large clusters of free-flying helium balloons may distract pilots of aircraft, including helicopters operating at low levels. If these objects are ingested by aircraft engines they can cause engine damage and endanger lives. As such, there are restrictions in place concerning the release of free-flying helium balloons in Singapore.

During operating hours of the military aerodromes, the release of free-flying helium balloons is strictly prohibited.

Outside the operating hours of the military aerodromes, the release of free-flying helium balloons is allowed subject to the following requirements:

Within 5km of any airport or airbase	Permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required
Outside 5km of any airport or airbase	Notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) required

In all cases, individually or as cluster, the balloons must not exceed 2 meters in any linear dimension.

You may go to the CAAS website at https://www.caas.gov.sg/e-services-forms/e-services/application-for-aerial-activities to submit an e-application. Please submit your application 7 working days before the conduct of this activity. This is to allow for adequate processing time to co-ordinate with other government agencies, such as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

It is an offence to release free-flying helium balloons during operating hours of the military aerodromes. Additionally, outside the above operating hours, it is an offence to release free-flying helium balloons:

• Within 5km of any airport or airbase without a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) at least 7 working days before the activity;
• Outside 5km of any airport or airbase without due notification to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) at least 7 working days before the activity.

Anyone convicted of these offences may be fined up to $20,000. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $40,000, or imprisoned for up to 15 months, or both.

Sky lanterns may pose a fire hazard or be a danger to aircraft operating in the vicinity. Furthermore, if these objects are ingested by aircraft engines, they can cause engine damage and endanger lives.

During operating hours of the military aerodromes, the release of sky lanterns is strictly prohibited. Outside these, the release of sky lanterns is subject to a safety assessment and may be allowed on a case-by-case basis.

Laser lights pointed directly at aircraft pose a hazard as they may distract the pilot or air crew while they are operating the aircraft. In severe cases, powerful laser lights can cause temporary flash blindness and even serious eye injuries.

Yes. If you are planning for any activity involving lights displays, including lasers, searchlights or any other high-intensity lights, discharges of pyrotechnics and fireworks, you are required to obtain a permit from Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

You may go to the CAAS website at https://www.caas.gov.sg/e-services-forms/e-services/application-for-aerial-activities to submit an e-application. Please submit your application 7 working days before the conduct of this activity. This is to allow for adequate processing time to co-ordinate with other government agencies, such as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

It is an offence to point a laser light or any other form of light at an aircraft. Anyone convicted of this offence may be fined up to $20,000. Repeat offenders may be fined up to $40,000, or imprisoned for up to 15 months, or both.

A UA refers to any aircraft that can be flown or used without any person on board the aircraft to operate it. They are controlled either remotely by a person on the ground or through the use of on-board computers. Some examples of UA include radio-controlled aircraft, drones and remote-controlled kites.

Depending on the weight of your unmanned aircraft (UA) and your intended UA activity, you may need to register your UA, obtain training, permits and/or hold a UA pilot licence. The user identification wizard listed here will help to guide you.

Unmanned aircraft poses risks to aviation and public safety. To mitigate these risks and provide greater assurance to the public, it is necessary to regulate unmanned aircraft activities and minimise disruption or risks to the public and other aviation activities.

The use of radio frequencies for unmanned aircraft shall comply with IMDA’s regulations.

Incidents involving infringement of privacy, such as a person using an unmanned aircraft (UA) to pry into another person’s property may be dealt with under the Penal Code.  

In the event of such incidents, you should make a police report immediately.   

*The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC)’s Advisory Guidelines on the Personal Data Protection Act for Selected Topics is applicable to images captured by UA operations for non-recreational/non-educational purposes.

Policies pertaining to the carriage of an unmanned aircraft on board an aircraft may differ from airline to airline. Travellers should check with the airline they intend to travel with prior to making their travel arrangements.

The full list of unmanned aircraft (UA)-related penalties can be found here: Air Navigation (101 – Unmanned Aircraft Operations) Regulations. 

CAAS takes a serious view of errant operations of UA which may pose threats to aviation or endanger the personal safety of others, and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against UA operators who contravene the regulations.

You can apply to CAAS for a permit to fly an unmanned aircraft by clicking here.

No permits are required for the recreational use of an unmanned aircraft (UA) if ALL of the following conditions are met:

 

• Total mass of the UA is 25 kilograms or lower;
• The UA is flown at an altitude not exceeding 200 feet (approx. 60 metres) above mean sea level (AMSL);
• The UA is flown outside of 5 kilometres of a civilian aerodrome/military airbase and outside any restricted, danger, protected or prohibited areas; and
• The UA does not discharge any item or substance when flying.

For more details on requirements for permits, click here.

“Recreation purposes” refers to any pursuit or activity engaged in for enjoyment, relaxation or leisure, but not:

• a sporting activity that forms part of an organised group activity or organised competition or tournament (such as a flying display);
• a recreational activity provided by a business, or in the course of business.

Examples:

1. An individual flying an unmanned aircraft (UA) for fun.
2. An individual flying a UA for aerial photography for personal collection.

No permits are required for the use of a UA for educational purposes if all of the following conditions are met:

• Total mass of the UA is 7 kilograms or lower;
• The UA is flown at an altitude not exceeding 200 feet (approx. 60 metres) above mean sea level (AMSL);
• The UA is flown beyond 5 kilometres of a civilian aerodrome/military airbase and outside any restricted, danger, protected or prohibited areas;
• The UA does not discharge any item or substance when flying.

For more details on requirements for permits, click here.

“Education purposes” refers to any lecture, tutorial, seminar, demonstration, class or similar activity on unmanned aircraft (UA) offered or provided by an educational institution mentioned in section 72 of the Private Education Act (Cap. 247A) to students enrolled in that education institution.

Examples:

1. A university conducting a course that involves flying of a UA for its enrolled students, as part of its full time curriculum.
2. A secondary school teacher flying a UA to demonstrate its capabilities to the students as part of co-curriculum activities.
3. Students of a primary school showcasing their UA as part of a school event.
4. Students of a university conducting UA flight tests as part of their final year projects.

You may download the OneMap app here and use it to find out whether the location of your planned flying activity falls within 5 kilometres of a civil aerodrome / military airbase, or if in protected, prohibited, restricted or danger areas.

You may fly your unmanned aircraft (UA) at any open field if your planned flight path is beyond 5 kilometres of a civil aerodrome / military airbase, or outside a protected, restricted, danger or prohibited area. If there are instructional signage from land management authorities pertaining to UA activities at the given area, you are also required to adhere to the instructions accordingly. 

 

Unless permit(s) have been obtained, flying of UA is strictly not allowed, if the location of the open field falls within 5 kilometres of a civil aerodrome / military airbase, or in a protected, restricted or danger area.

 

You may download the OneMap app here and use it to check if your planned flight path falls within 5 kilometres of a civil aerodrome / military airbase, or in protected, prohibited, restricted or danger areas.

 

For more details on requirements for permits, click here.

Permits are not required for unmanned aircraft (UA) operations indoors except when operating a UA for:

• Sporting activities that form part of an organised group activity or organised competition, race, or a tournament;
• Events attended by more than 50 individuals at any time; or
• Flying displays.

You may fly your unmanned aircraft (UA) at night if you are able to maintain visual line of sight with your UA at all times. You will need to ensure that there is enhanced lighting on your UA for greater visibility when flying at night.

Both the Operator Permit and Class 1 Activity Permit are required.

To apply for a permit, please click here.

The average processing time is 10 working days for the Operator Permit, and 5 working days for the Activity Permit, from the receipt of all required documentation and the necessary permit fees. You are encouraged to submit your application well in advance of the date of the planned unmanned aircraft activity.

If your application has been pending for more than 3 months due to various reasons (e.g. pilot assessment not completed, incomplete information and documents despite multiple reminders from CAAS), the assessment process may be terminated. In the event that your application has been terminated, please submit a new application if you still intend to apply for a permit.

CAAS will notify you in writing on the outcome of your application for any permit.

You are advised to seek permission from the building management or owners, and/or adhere to instructions on signage from land management authorities before proceeding with your unmanned aircraft activity.

An Operator Permit is granted by CAAS to an organisation or individual if the applicant has demonstrated that he is able to operate the unmanned aircraft (UA) safely. 

 

The assessment will include, but not limited to, the applicant's organisational set-up, procedures to manage safety including the conduct of safety risk assessments, airworthiness of each UA, and competency of the personnel involved in the flying of the UA.

You may find the details of supporting documents required for Operator Permit applications here.

Yes. The Operator Permit is applicable even for recreational users if, for example, the unmanned aircraft has a total mass, including payload, exceeding 25 kilograms. More details can be found in this Advisory Circular.

Applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. A company based outside of Singapore is first required to submit to CAAS an official letter of intent from the client(s) who is intending to engage the company, and the scope of activity involving the unmanned aircraft.

Applications for renewal of an operator permit can be made online and should be submitted before the permit expires. 

Submissions to renew an expired permit will not be entertained, and a new application is required.

Renewal of operator permit will entail a fee of $250, provided that there are no additional unmanned aircraft types to be included in the scope of the operator permit in the renewal.

You should submit the application online to vary the scope of operator permit. Each addition or changes to an unmanned aircraft type listed in the operator permit will entail a fee of $450.

You should submit the application online to vary the scope of operator permit.

You may also be required to pay an application fee for each addition of a UA type, if any of the following criteria are met: 

• The UA models are of different categories (i.e. aeroplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift, airship) with different handling characteristics;
• The UA models are not classified as the same family series by the manufacturer (e.g. DJI Phantom 3 series include Standard, Advanced, Professional versions);
• There is deviation amongst the UA models in terms of the functionalities of the flight critical systems (e.g. propulsion system, power and electrical system, flight control and navigation system, command and control system, and critical structures); or
• As otherwise advised by CAAS.

Each addition or change to a UA type will entail a fee of $450.

An Activity Permit is granted by CAAS to an applicant for a single activity or a block of repeated activities involving the operation of an unmanned aircraft taking into account the location(s) of operation, type(s) of operation to be conducted, date(s)/time(s) during which the operation(s) to be conducted, operating altitude and mitigation measures to address location-specific circumstances. There are two types of activity permits - Class 1 Activity Permit and Class 2 Activity Permit.

A Class 1 Activity Permit is required for unmanned aircraft activities conducted for purposes that are neither recreation nor education. An applicant for the Class 1 Activity Permit must also be the holder of a valid Operator Permit.

A Class 2 Activity Permit is required for activities conducted outdoors for recreation or education purposes, when the planned activity meets any of the following conditions:

• Operating altitude higher than 200 feet above mean sea level (AMSL);
• Within 5 km of a civil aerodrome /military airbase; or
• Within any Restricted Area, Danger Area or Protected Area

You may find a checklist of supporting documents required for Activity Permit applications in the Advisory Circular here.

An Activity Permit is only valid for a single activity for a specific period of time (e.g. a few hours within one day). However, if an applicant needs to perform the same activity for a longer period of time (e.g. a few hours every day for a month), the applicant may be granted a block Activity Permit to do so, if conditions permit and subject to regulatory approval. 

 

Upon expiry of the existing Permit, a new Activity Permit application must be submitted to CAAS.

This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Please submit your planned unmanned aircraft (UA) activity details and intended locations with your Activity Permit application online. You will be advised accordingly once your application has been reviewed.

Please refer to this Advisory Circular for more information on the use of the hardware tracker and FlyItSafe mobile app.

There will be no change to existing UA Activity Permit application processes. The CFMS allows CAAS better oversight of unmanned aircraft flown by operators locally and helps boost aviation safety in Singapore.

All approved Activity Permits will be reflected on FlyItSafe mobile app by the next working day. You should be able to see all of your approved Activity Permits under the Activity Permit list. Please note that only Activity Permits that are valid at the point of time of the intended activity will be listed on the Start Flight Checklist.

The FlyItSafe mobile app can be downloaded from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store.

The FlyItSafe mobile app is optimized for Android 8 – 11 and iOS 13 – 15.

Please refer to the mobile app description in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store for information on the latest Android and iOS versions release.

You may try to restart the mobile phone.

Alternatively, you may also try reinstalling the FlyItSafe mobile app, and ensure that it is updated to the latest version. If the problem persists, please contact CAAS at CAAS_CFMS_Helpdesk@caas.gov.sg.

You can run the FlyItSafe mobile app in the background on the same mobile device when using other apps, but you need to enable FlyItSafe push notifications on your mobile device and ensure that the sound and vibration settings are switched on.

Yes, you will be able to view other unmanned aircraft traffic tracked by the CFMS within 1km range.

You can only use your Singpass credentials to log into the FlyItSafe mobile app. Please note that the FlyItSafe mobile app does not support eSOMS pass.

If you are logging in on behalf of your company, your company Corppass Admin will need to first assign yourself with the access to “CAAS CFMS” digital service. Thereafter, you may login via “Users with UEN” using your Singpass credentials.

If you are logging in as an individual, you may login via “Users without UEN” using your Singpass credentials.

No. Each Singpass account can only be logged in by a single device at any one time.

Yes. However, each UA pilot who is operating the UA will need to login to the FlyItSafe mobile app using his/her respective Singpass credentials.

Operators with a valid Operator Permit (OP) can purchase the tracker via eSOMS.

The maximum number of trackers allowable for purchase is limited to 3 per OP holder. Should you require more trackers above this number, please contact CAAS_CFMS_Helpdesk@caas.gov.sg. Please note that requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact Garuda Robotics (support@garuda.io) for all technical support matters and/or repairs of the tracker.

If your tracker is faulty prior to flight, you may still continue with the flight using the FlyItSafe mobile app only. However, you are required to inform CAAS of the fault via FormSG and to contact Garuda Robotics (support@garuda.io) expeditiously for all technical support matters and repairs of the tracker.

Yes. You will need to assess and plan for the number of trackers needed to support your operations. Each tracker lasts approximately 60 mins per full charge and requires approximately 60 mins for a full charge.

Submit an acknowledgement form to CAAS via FormSG upon successful completion of the ground verification check.

CAAS has conducted tests on most UA models above 250g without significant impact. However, if safe operation of your UA is deemed to be affected, contact CAAS_CFMS_Helpdesk@caas.gov.sg to provide detailed justifications.

For more information on UA models tested, please refer to tracker user manual.

The tracker is independently powered by batteries and will not affect your unmanned aircraft’s battery life.

Yes. For all request on direct transmission of UA telemetry information directly to the CFMS, please contact CAAS_CFMS_Helpdesk@caas.gov.sg.

If it is not possible to use the CFMS in your intended area of activity, please indicate this in your Activity Permit application. CAAS will assess the request on a case-by-case basis.

No. There is no need to apply for a variation of the Operator Permit.

Any unmanned aircraft with a total weight of above 250 grams must be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore before it can be operated in Singapore.

 

From 2 April 2020, it will be an offence to operate an unregistered unmanned aircraft with a total weight of above 250 grams in Singapore.

 

For more information, click here.

No, registrants must be at least 16 years old.

For a person who is below 16 years old, his or her unmanned aircraft must be registered by a person who is eligible to register the unmanned aircraft. In such instances, it is strongly encouraged for parents or legal guardians of a person below 16 years to register the unmanned aircraft of their children / wards.

Please note that the registered owner of the unmanned aircraft is responsible for the activities of their unmanned aircraft. They must ensure that persons operating their unmanned aircraft are competent to operate it in a safe and responsible manner.

No, registration is only required if you intend to fly your unmanned aircraft.

Yes, if your unmanned aircraft has a total weight of more than 250 grams, you are required to register it before you fly regardless of where you intend to fly.

You will first need to purchase a registration label online, or from a designated SingPost Post Office. Once you obtain the label, visit the online UA Portal to complete the registration process.

For more information, click here.

The registration fee for each unmanned aircraft (UA) is $20.

This fee is payable when you purchase the registration label online (with postage included), or over-the-counter at the designated SingPost Post Offices.

No, the registration does not have an expiry date. It is a one-time registration.

The expiry date shown on the plastic packaging refers to the shelf life of the registration label. There is a 2-year shelf life for the registration label and it should be affixed onto the unmanned aircraft to be registered before the stated expiry date.

No, there is no limit to the number of unmanned aircraft that you can register under your name.
However, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are eligible to purchase up to 5 registration labels, while non-Singaporeans and non-Permanent Residents are eligible to purchase 1 registration label only.
If you wish to purchase more than the purchasing limits, please fill up the UA Registration Label - Purchase Limit Request Form here

Please note that such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, you are required to register your unmanned aircraft before you fly if it has a total weight of above than 250 grams, regardless of whether you already hold an Operator Permit.

An Operator Permit is an authorisation granted by CAAS to permit an individual or an entity to operate unmanned aircraft for specific purposes. For more information, please refer to the following Advisory Circular.

Yes, depending on the purpose of activity, the total weight of your UA, as well as the location and height at which you intend to fly your UA, you may still need to obtain a UA Basic Training Certificate, a UA Pilot Licence, an Activity Permit and/or an Operator Permit. 

 

Visit this page to learn more about the regulatory requirements that may apply to you.

 

The user identification wizard listed here will help to guide you.

The registered owner of the unmanned aircraft is responsible for the activities of their unmanned aircraft. You must ensure that persons operating your unmanned aircraft are competent to operate it in a safe and responsible manner. Hence, while you may give your friend permission to use an unmanned aircraft registered in your name, you will be held responsible should there be any contravention to the rules.

However, if you intend to transfer ownership of your unmanned aircraft to your friend, you should de-register your unmanned aircraft and remove the registration label from the unmanned aircraft. Your friend will be required to purchase a new registration label and complete the registration.

You are required to register your unmanned aircraft if the total weight of the unmanned aircraft at the time of operations, including any add-on items or modifications, exceeds 250g. If you are unsure of the total weight of your unmanned aircraft, you are advised to register your unmanned aircraft.

Yes, you will be required to register the unmanned aircraft for such scenarios, if the total weight of the unmanned aircraft at the time of operations, including any add-on items or modifications, exceeds 250g.

Please register the UA using your organisation’s Corppass via the online UA Portal.

To register a UA on behalf of an organisation, please do so via your organisation’s Corppass via the online UA Portal. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL) and schools should also register their UA using the Corppass account.

Please allow up to 5 working days for the registration label to be mailed to you. Only Singapore addresses are accepted.

Only valid NRIC, FIN or Passport will be accepted as a valid photo ID for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. For non-Singaporeans and non-Permanent Residents, only FIN or Passport will be accepted as a valid photo ID.
A digital photo ID is required for those who wish to purchase the registration label online, while those who purchase at any of the designated SingPost Post Offices will be required to submit a photocopy of their photo ID.

The registration label must be affixed on the outer surface of a non-detachable part of the unmanned aircraft (e.g. top surface or at the side of the main body) and be clearly visible. Do not stick the registration label on places such as the removable battery, propeller guard or propeller.
For more information, click here.

The Registration ID and Verification ID can be found in the registration label package. These two IDs are required to complete the registration. Please do not throw away the label package until you have completed your registration.

Above and below the QR-code of the registration label, there are two strings of characters. The registration ID is the seven-character alphanumeric code that is found above the QR code. The verification ID is the three-character alphanumeric code that is found below the QR code.

It is important that the photograph captures the label affixed to the unmanned aircraft. CAAS will contact you if further clarifications are required.

Should the registration label be damaged or has been tampered with, it will be rendered invalid. You will be required to de-register the unmanned aircraft and re-register your UA by purchasing a new registration label.

No, you do not need to register your UA if you are not intending to fly it in Singapore.

You will be required to first apply for a UAPass account at the online UA Portal. The processing time of the UAPass takes about 5 working days. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply for your UAPass account prior to your visit to Singapore.

Thereafter, you can purchase the registration label over-the-counter at designated SingPost outlets. For over-the-counter purchase, the following is required:

a)      Completed physical copy of the UA Registration Label Purchase Form; and

b)      Original and photocopy of your Passport.

You may also purchase the registration label online. However, you will need a local address as the delivery is only within Singapore.

After you have affixed the registration label on your UA, login to the online UA Portal with your UAPass account to complete the registration.

No, you should register your UA using your Singpass or Corppass if you already hold a Singpass or are registering on behalf of an organisation.

For tourists and foreigners that are not eligible for a Singpass or Corppass account, you will be required to apply for a UAPass to complete your registration process. The processing time of the UAPass takes about 5 working days. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply for your UAPass prior to your visit to Singapore.

You should de-register your unmanned aircraft under any of the following situations:

• If the unmanned aircraft is lost or damaged beyond repair; 
• When the registration label is damaged or when the information on the label becomes illegible;
• When intending to transfer the ownership of the unmanned aircraft to someone else.

If the registration label is not tampered with or damaged, you will not be required to de-register the unmanned aircraft and register it under a new registration. However, for purposes of traceability, you are strongly encouraged to keep a record of the changes made to your unmanned aircraft arising from repairs or modifications.

If you intend to sell your registered unmanned aircraft, you should de-register your unmanned aircraft and remove the registration label from the unmanned aircraft. The new owner of the unmanned aircraft will be required to purchase a new registration label and complete the registration under his / her name.

Please log in to the online UA Portal with the same account that was used for the initial registration of your unmanned aircraft (UA). Go to the “Manage / De-register My UA” tab and select the UA you wish to de-register to complete the de-registration.

Please be reminded to also remove the registration label from your de-registered UA.

You need an unmanned aircraft pilot licence (UAPL):

• if you are operating an unmanned aircraft (UA), regardless of the UA weight, for business purposes or for non-recreational or non-educational purposes, or;
• if you are operating a UA that weighs more than 7 kilograms, for recreational and educational purposes.

The UAPL allows the holder to operate UA of the specific category within the privileges of the UAPL.

To obtain an unmanned aircraft pilot licence (UAPL), you must:

1. Pass a theory test administered by CAAS at the Singapore Aviation Academy.

2. Pass a practical assessment conducted by an Authorised Flight Examiner within a UA training and assessment organisation (UATO).

3. Be at least 16 years old at the point of UAPL application.

You are strongly encouraged to complete a training programme with any CAAS-approved UATOs to acquire the relevant theoretical knowledge and practical experience before attempting the theory test and practical assessment. The list of CAAS-approved UATOs is published here.

Please click here to book a theory test. Upon passing both the theory test and practical assessment, please click here to apply for a UAPL.

The unmanned aircraft pilot licence (UAPL) will remain valid, provided the holder of the UAPL demonstrates competency by passing a proficiency check conducted by CAAS or by an Authorised Flight Examiner (AFE) at a CAAS-approved UA Training and Assessment Organisation (UATO) once every four years.

Conversion of a foreign licence / qualification is currently not accepted.

For more information, please refer to this Advisory Circular.

No, you are required to pass the theory test before attempting the practical assessment. The theory test will be valid for 24 months from the date of completion.

Yes, an unmanned aircraft pilot licence (UAPL) is still required for the unmanned aircraft (UA) pilot if the UA is operated for non-recreational / non-educational purposes, or if the UA is operated for recreational/educational purposes and it has a total mass of more than 7 kilograms.

You are strongly encouraged to complete a training programme with any CAAS-approved UA Training and assessment Organisations (UATO) to acquire the relevant theoretical knowledge and practical experience before attempting the theory test and practical assessment. 

 

The list of CAAS-approved UATOs is published here.

You may refer to the theory test syllabus, learning objectives and recommended study guides in Appendix 1 of this Advisory Circular.

A Class A unmanned aircraft pilot licence (UAPL) allows the pilot to operate any unmanned aircraft (UA) model with a total mass not exceeding 25 kilograms within a specific category (i.e. aeroplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift and airship).

A Class B UAPL rating allows the pilot to operate only a specific UA model with a total mass of more than 25 kilograms. To qualify for the Class B UAPL rating, the applicant will require a relevant Class A UAPL of the specific category under which that UA model is classified under. The UA model will also need to be approved within an Operator Permit.

The fee for an initial UAPL application for the first category is $500. Any variation (e.g. adding of category, adding rating in Class B) will be $200.

The fee for the theory test is $125.

You will need to complete the unmanned aircraft basic training (UABT), if you are operating a UA with a total weight exceeding 1.5kg but not exceeding 7kg for a recreational or an educational purpose. Upon successful completion of the training, you will receive a UA Basic Training Certificate.

Users operating UA with a total weight not exceeding 1.5 kilograms for a recreational or an educational purpose are encouraged to complete the UABT.

The list of CAAS-approved UA Basic Training Organisations (UABTO) is published here.

No, there is no expiry date for the UA Basic Training Certificate.

No, you are not required to complete the unmanned aircraft basic training if you have a valid unmanned aircraft pilot licence granted by CAAS.

If you are below 16 years old and intend to operate any unmanned aircraft in this weight category for a recreational or an educational purpose, you may do so under the supervision of another person who is at least 16 years old and has obtained the UA Basic Training Certificate, or holds a valid unmanned aircraft pilot licence.

The required information and documents to be submitted during the application can be found in this Advisory Circular.

Once you are ready and have prepared the required documents, you may submit your application here.

To be a certified UABTO, the following fees apply:
Initial application -- $350
Renewal application -- $150
Application to vary the approval -- $200

The UA Basic Training Organisation approval may be granted a validity period not exceeding one year.

To apply to be an UATO, please refer to this Advisory Circular which notes the required information and documents to be submitted during the application. 

Once you are ready and have prepared the required documents, you may submit your application here.

To be a certified UATO, the following fees apply:
Initial application -- $2300
Renewal application -- $1400
Application to vary approval -- $1600

The UA Training and Assessment Organisation approval may be granted a validity period not exceeding one year.

No, a UA Training and Assessment Organisation is only required to provide both training and practical assessment on at least one unmanned aircraft category.

 

The categories are aeroplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift and airship.

Yes, an organisation can hold both approvals.

 

Please note that the applications for the grant of a UA Training and Assessment Organisation approval and for a UA Basic Training Organisation approval will be treated independently.

The Unmanned Aircraft Flying Area (UAFA) is a dedicated site that provides a safe flying area fitted with light amenities needed for UA recreational activities while safeguarding aviation and public safety. It gives UA operators the assurance that it is safe to fly here and offers a common space to gather and foster a culture of safe and responsible UA operations amongst the UA community in Singapore.

CAAS worked with agencies to identify suitable site based on a set of criteria. These include:

• Located outside of no-fly zones (beyond 5km of Changi Airport and military airbases)
• Open area of at least 1 ha in size, ideally 3-4 ha
• Available for at least 1.5 years, and ideally for 3 years and more
• Ideally, parking is available/ parking provisions can be created nearby.
• Ideally, public amenities are available nearby (e.g., bathrooms, water points)

Yes. UA operators are reminded to adhere to prevailing UA regulations and on-site operating guidelines posted on signages at the UAFA. Please refer to this page for more information on UA regulations

We welcome UA operators to fly their UA at the UAFA in line with prevailing UA regulations.

There are no age restrictions for recreational flying of UA not exceeding 1.5kg in weight, however we recommend UA operators below the age of 16 operating such UA to be supervised by an adult.

For UA exceeding 1.5kg but not exceeding 7kg in weight, UA operators below the age of 16 must be supervised by someone who has fulfilled the corresponding UA pilot competency requirements.

For non-recreational purposes, the relevant CAAS permits must be obtained.

You may refer to this page for more information on UA regulatory requirements.

Although the UAFA is targeted towards recreational users, UA operations conducted for non-recreational purposes are also allowed, as long as they adhere to prevailing UA regulations and the relevant CAAS permits are obtained.

Recreational UA flying is still allowed outside of the UAFA. Regardless of location, UA operators must continue to adhere to prevailing UA regulations and guidelines including flying below 200 feet above mean sea level and outside of "no-fly zones".

Please check OneMap here to ensure that you are not within the no-fly zones. The shaded areas of the map show the no-fly zones.

You may refer to this page for more information on UA regulatory requirements.

There is no charge for the public to operate their UA at the UAFA.

The UAFA is equipped with signages displaying the recommended on-site operating guidelines and prevailing UA regulations for UA operators' awareness. Feather flags and water buoys are installed at the UAFA to clearly demarcate the boundaries of the UAFA site for UAs to be flown in.

The UAFA at Pandan Reservoir is a pilot UAFA and will run until January 2023. CAAS will review the feedback from the public and UA operators, which will inform CAAS' assessment of the viability and need to extend the tenure, subject to URA's prevailing priorities on land use. Uptake of the UAFA site and feedback from the public and UA community will also be taken into consideration for the extension of the tenure.

The UAFA site is located approximately 400m from the nearest residences at the north-western corner of the reservoir to minimise the possible disturbance to the residents. The on-site operating guidelines were also developed with residents in mind. Feather flags and water buoys are installed at the UAFA to clearly demarcate the boundaries of the UAFA site for UAs to be flown in. The UAFA site operating hours are from 9am to 6pm to minimise impact to the residents.

No, the UAFA is a shared common space for the public. UA operators are reminded of the need to be considerate towards other users of the space.

The UAFA site operating hours are from 9am to 6pm.

We encourage UA operators to join the UAFA Telegram channel for push notifications on the latest updates and important notices for the UAFA(s) (e.g. closure of UAFAs). Please scan the QR code below to join the UAFA Telegram channel.

https://t.me/caas_uafa