ILS : Singapore needs both northerly, southerly approaches

SINGAPORE, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Singapore would need to put in place instrument flight procedures for both the northerly and southerly approaches into Seletar Airport, according to Singapore Ministry of Transport (MOT).

The Ministry said Singapore had conveyed them at the meeting on Nov 29, 2018 between Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia.

“Flight procedures for both directions are necessary because aircraft land and take off into the wind,” it said in a statement responding to media queries on latest Malaysia Ministry of Transport’s statement related to the ILS (Instrument Landing System) procedures for Seletar Airport.

Earlier Malaysia MOT said the ensuing tension between Malaysia and Singapore was unnecessary and could be avoided by implementing the new ILS procedures for Runaway 03 on the southern side of Seletar Airport, as opposed to Runaway 21 on the northern side.

“In this region, winds blow from a north-easterly direction for half of the year, and a south-westerly direction for the other half of the year. Therefore, flight procedures for a southerly approach cannot safely replace all flight procedures for the northerly approach,” said Singapore MOT.

Hence, CAAS explained to CAAM that in addition to the current ILS procedures for the northerly approaches into Seletar Airport, “CAAS will also be implementing instrument flight procedures for the southerly approaches.”

Singapore MOT also said that it was “not true” that the implementation of ILS procedures for the northerly approach into Seletar Airport was a “clear violation of Malaysian sovereignty and international law and standards.”

“The nature of international civil aviation is such that flights have to traverse the airspace of different States. It is not uncommon for flight procedures to/from airports in one State, especially those near other States, to traverse the territories of neighbouring States.

“This does not entail a violation of the sovereignty of the States being overflown. The instrument flight procedures for some Malaysian airports also extend into the territories of neighbouring States,” it said.

In the spirit of cooperation and mutual benefit, the Ministry said “we are prepared to discuss Malaysia’s technical concerns in good faith.”

According to Singapore MOT, on Dec 4, 2018, Malaysian Minister of Transport Anthony Loke stated that Malaysia would be giving Singapore its counterproposal.

“We look forward to receiving Malaysia’s counterproposal, and would be pleased to meet with Malaysia thereafter,” it said.

-- BERNAMA