REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES IN THE SINGAPORE AVIATION INDUSTRY: CURRENT ASSESSMENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

Abstract

Strategically located in South-East Asia, Singapore is developing as a major aviation hub in the region. As one of the world’s leading Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) station, the aviation industry is of important value to Singapore’s economic development. IATA identifies that the Asia pacific region will account for 37% of total global fleet in the next 10 to 15 years; it has been identified that the air transport industry is estimated to have contributed US$30 billion, or approximately 11.4% of Singapore’s GDP.

the island is experiencing increasing amounts of companies to fulfil this demand, there is a need to for the local aviation industry towards developing a more sustainable framework. Aside from reviewing supply chains to cope with the rise in business activities, the increased operations may indirectly cause more environmental issues to surface. Local airports, like Changi and Seletar, and aerospace industrial parks, like Loyang and Seletar, are of close proximity to water features; susceptible to polluted water runoff, this emphasizes the need for ecologically responsible processes to complement the growing industry.

Besides the actual flying of the aircraft, there are significant activities that revolve around flight; the report categorises activities into three sectors, namely Airlines, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations and ancillary Airport services. Where these sectors all contribute to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions directly or indirectly, this study aims to identify and provide the reader with better awareness of the Aviation industry’s current environmental position in Singapore. Providing environmental related literature on how Singapore’s aerospace industry is fairing, shortfalls and gaps within each sectors are reviewed; recommendations for improvement, with cost-benefit examples, shall be included to provide the reader with propositions towards improving identified shortcomings.