Both agencies commit to expand cooperation to tackle emerging complex issues impacting aviation

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA) have signed two collaborative agreements, further strengthening their bilateral partnership.

The first agreement is a technical Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation across a wide range of areas in international civil aviation. In particular, both agencies commit to working together to improve aviation safety and training, and addressing emerging complex issues, such as cybersecurity in air transport systems and safeguarding of public health in air travel, including COVID-19. Under the MOU, a Bilateral Aviation Steering Committee will be established to drive the collaboration.

The second agreement is a Technical Arrangement on Aviation Maintenance (TAM), which was concluded under the ambit of the MOU. The TA-M facilitates the reciprocal acceptance of approvals pertaining to the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircraft and aircraft components by the CAAS and the UKCAA. This arrangement will benefit the aviation industry in both Singapore and the UK by streamlining audits and reducing regulatory compliance costs for MRO organisations in both countries, while maintaining high safety standards.

Kevin Shum, Director-General of CAAS said, “CAAS and the UKCAA have enjoyed a long-standing close relationship. These new agreements reinforce our shared commitment to advance aviation safety, strengthen civil aviation development and support our industries. The TA-M will benefit some 70 aviation maintenance organisations in Singapore and the UK.”

Richard Moriarty, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority said, “Aviation relationships between the UK and Singapore have a long and successful history. We are delighted to be deepening those relationships as we look forward to the industry’s post-COVID 19 recovery and long-term development.”

A recent example of cooperation involved both aviation authorities, as well as Changi Airport, Heathrow Airport, British Airways, Singapore Airlines and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in response to COVID-19. Together, they successfully conducted a series of trials to validate aviation health measures for air crew, as recommended in the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce ‘Take-off’ guidelines. Data collected from these trials will contribute to enhancing the guidelines, which aim to reduce public health risk to passengers, air crew and airport staff during air travel, and strengthen confidence among the travelling public.