Celebrating 100 years of aviation in Singapore

In 1911, a British Bristol Boxkite biplane took off from Singapore, setting in motion a journey that has led to aviation playing a significant role in transforming the island into a global city. This year, Singapore celebrates 100 years of aviation, marking a centenary of aviation achievements that has helped place Singapore on the world map. A year-long calendar of events and activities has been brought together to showcase the many achievements of the aviation industry and the myriad opportunities the industry offers.

On the scale of achievements, Singapore's vibrant aviation hub is nothing less than stellar. The numbers speak for themselves: An airplane takes off or lands every two minutes, everyday, all year-long. This translates to a staggering 264,000 flights last year, carrying 42 million passengers - more than eight times the entire population of Singapore. And in a similar vein, Singapore is a prime destination for cargo, handling 1.8 million tonnes of air freight last year. Add to that a bustling maintenance, repair and overhaul aero-engineering sector worth over $7 billion a year.

How did the tiny island of Singapore become such a recognised aviation hub, not merely for its airport and airline, but for its aircraft support services, maintenance and repair, training, education, research & development and cargo logistics capabilities?

The rise of Singapore's aviation hub

The multinational companies that first invested in Singapore helped set the stage for further economic growth, spurring a rise in air passenger travel and cargo volumes through Singapore and attracting even greater investment. This growth kick-started the provision of engineering-related services that, although borne out of necessity for Singapore's burgeoning airline and air force, were quick to adapt to the demands of a rapidly growing international air carrier industry, and later became full-fledged global providers of aero-engineering services.

Growth in demand for air services drove rapid airport development that saw successive innovations in terms of infrastructure, facilities and services, ultimately establishing Changi Airport as a global brand and benchmark of quality. So too for Singapore Airlines and for aero-engineering companies like ST Aerospace - all acknowledged leaders in the industry.

Singapore's 'open skies' policy has also been a large contributing factor in creating a comprehensive aviation hub, a major business centre and tourist destination. Today, Singapore has Air Services Agreements with over 100 countries and territories. As an active advocate of open skies, Singapore has also concluded over 40 Open Skies Agreements.

While effort was put into building the right infrastructure at the right time, equally important was the development of highly skilled human capital to enable future growth, through a plethora of educational options.

The establishment of Singapore as a vibrant aviation hub has helped foster a greater sense of the global world - bringing to Singapore the multifarious peoples of the world, as well as enabling Singaporeans to travel far into the rest of the world.

Singapore Aviation Centennial Celebrations

Working in close collaboration with the aviation community, the Singapore Aviation Centennial Celebrations (SACC) present some of the fascinating aspects of the Singapore aviation industry and how it has transformed Singapore into a global city, bringing people from all over the world to our shores.

One of the key events in the SACC calendar is "Our Journey, Our Future" - the Singapore Aviation Centennial Exhibition. This exhibition will be open from 8 August through 30 October 2011. Held at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall Row 11, it traces the rich historical journey of Singapore aviation. While showcasing the multi-faceted aspects of Singapore as a vibrant global aviation hub, it will also provide a glimpse of the future of aviation through the eyes of our aviation partners. Visitors can also view and take pictures of a half-size replica of the Bristol Boxkite biplane on display at the exhibition.

For a different look at Singapore aviation history, visitors can walk through "Singapore Takes Flight: A Hundred Years", an exhibition held at the Singapore Philatelic Museum. The exhibition features the museum's permanent collection of picture postcards, postage stamps, and first day covers and a private collection of 54 civilian and military model aircrafts. This exhibition, which runs till 30 September, also features an award-winning philatelic collection on Malayan airmail. For stamp collectors, a Singapore Aviation Commemorative Series capturing the progress, development and success of Singapore aviation in the past 100 years, is also available for purchase.

For those interested in a career in aviation, the Aviation Open House brings together key players in the aviation industry under one roof, providing a glimpse of the career opportunities available. Participants at this open house will get a chance to meet and interact with industry veterans. The Aviation Open House will be held from 3 through 5 November at D'Marquee, Downtown East.

The Singapore Airshow 2012, Asia's largest and one of the world's top three aerospace and defence exhibitions, is t he only event of its kind that brings together heads of the international aviation community, including key political and military leaders. Closing the year-long centennial celebrations on a high note, visitors to the Singapore Airshow 2012 from 14 through 19 February 2012, will enjoy a day of adrenaline-pumping revelry under the sun.

For more information on Singapore Aviation Centennial Celebrations, please visit www.aviationcentennial.sg

Abstract from Bridging Skies - Special Aviation Centennial issue. Bridging Skies is a publication of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's (CAAS)