Singapore, Japan to jointly promote Asia-Pacific air traffic management transformation

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan (JCAB) have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) to jointly promote air traffic management (ATM) transformation in the Asia-Pacific.

The MOC was signed by Kevin Shum, director-general of CAAS, and Hitoshi Ishizaki, director-general of JCAB's Air Navigation Services Department, on the sidelines of World ATM Congress in Madrid.

The MOC will facilitate the sharing of information, knowledge and expertise between the two organisations. It will also enable collaboration in ATM modernisation efforts and in research activities to develop ATM concepts, solutions and technologies for the next generation of ATM systems.

Mr Shum noted the MOC is CAAS's first with an air navigation services provider from the Asia-Pacific region. "The establishment of this MOC furthers CAAS' vision to develop Singapore as a Centre of Excellence (COE) for ATM," he said.

CAAS vision for Singapore as a COE for ATM is premised on a vibrant eco-system comprising research institutes and think tanks, academia, industry players, international ATM entities and aviation stakeholders, conducting a wide range of ATM research and development activities.

The convergence of minds, ideas and innovations will contribute to the development, testing and validation of ATM concepts, technologies and solutions for Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Ishizaki said: "I have been highly interested in Singapore's ATM initiatives, and at the same time intuition whispered to me that CAAS and JCAB could be united as partners in the Asia Pacific region. I am convinced that we could gear up both ATM modernisation and Seamless Sky realisation by reinforcing mutual cooperation in this area."

CAAS and JCAB's mutual interest for a closer partnership was started through interactions at Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (Canso) events.

Jeff Poole, director-general of Canso, who attended the signing ceremony, said: "Partnership is one of the three pillars of Vision 2020, Canso's strategic framework for the air traffic management industry. I am therefore delighted to see two important Canso Members in Asia Pacific working in partnership on practical steps towards our vision of seamless and harmonised airspace."