The Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS) convened in Singapore on 15 July, bringing together aviation leaders to address the challenges posed by increasing air traffic and recent global incidents. The summit, co-organised by Singapore and the Flight Safety Foundation, emphasised the importance of reinforcing safety fundamentals as air traffic volumes recover and surpass pre-pandemic levels.
Since its inception in 2023, AP-SAS has facilitated significant milestones, including the establishment of a regional safety data-sharing initiative among five ASEAN states. This initiative has seen the sharing of 7,000 occurrence reports, enhancing the collective ability to identify and address safety hazards.
The summit’s theme, “Future-Proofing Aviation Safety: Adapt, Innovate, Excel,” reflects the anticipated growth in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by a burgeoning middle class. Countries like Australia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are expanding airport infrastructure to meet this demand, which brings increased complexity to air traffic and airport operations.
Senior Minister of State for Transport, Sun Xueling, highlighted the need for proactive measures to reinforce safety systems and resilience. She stressed the importance of robust safety regimes, positive safety cultures, and strong leadership to maintain public trust in aviation.
The summit also underscored the role of technological innovations, such as System Wide Information Management and Trajectory Based Operations, in enhancing safety and efficiency. However, these advancements require rigorous testing and workforce training to ensure safe integration.
As the aviation industry faces geopolitical and supply chain challenges, collaborative efforts across governments, industry, and international organisations are deemed essential. The summit serves as a platform for timely discussions and cross-sharing of emerging safety issues, aiming to navigate new complexities and support growth in the sector.
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