Singapore Airshow 2022–Resilience, Resolution, Recovery ⋆ MAphotoSG

Two years after the last edition was held under the shadow of the incoming Covid-19 pandemic, the Singapore Airshow returns back to the Changi Exhibition Centre with a much smaller but no less qualitative presence, with Safe Management Measures (SMM) in place to control and reduce the transmission potential of the virus. This year’s edition sees almost 600 companies participating, with more than 70% of the top 20 global aviation companies represented. The event is a strictly by-invite only, with about 13,000 trade attendees from more than 39 countries and regions attending. And for the first time, there will not be public days, which are traditionally held on the Sat/Sun weekend.

Despite these measures which will certainly impact the number of visitors, during the media conference on 13 February, Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events, was very optimistic about the event. Setting up the media conference in the middle of the exhibition hall amidst the ongoing booth construction, was “to make sure we feel the excitement and the energy and the action that’s happen and taking place as we gear up towards Singapore Airshow 2022,” said Mr Leck.

After almost two difficult years of the aviation industry being impacted by the Covid, the numbers are showing the resilience of the Asia Pacific (APAC) market as it gets ready for a strong recovery and growth based on the following:

– International Air Transport Association (IATA) is forecasting a passenger growth in APAC of about 4.5% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for the next 20 years, the highest rate of all the global regions.
– Airbus forecasts the APAC region to have the highest new aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years, accounting for more than 40% of global deliveries
– Boeing places the potential aviation services market value in APAC at USD$3.7 triliion over the next 20 years.

With these numbers, Mr Leck said, “In all aspects, the level of optimism is high, the growth potential is good, and I think we need to use this opportunity to capitalise on this growth. And I think it’s even more important and more pertinent now when we are at the crossroads of industry, we’re seeing some growth. That’s why we need to leverage on this, get the top industry players, top minds, top decision makers to come together, have discussions so that we can collectively navigate, find ways, find solutions to navigate our way through this pandemic.”

Mr Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia Events

Positioning Singapore Airshow 2022 as a catalyst for industry recovery and transformation, the strategic conversations have a focus in two folds through the curated forums. With the Aviation CEO Forum, the current state of the aviation industry is explored through the lens of business leaders from Avolon, BOC Aviation, CFM International, Malaysia Airlines and Rex Airlines. They will also share their insights and views on how the industry can more forward through the current global environment. The second fold revolves around sustainability and this is explored in the current and future state through two sustainability themed forums featuring panellists from ST Engineering, Shell Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing, Skypots, Rolls-Royce, Embraer and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.

The AeroCampus takes on the role of facilitating and developing a sustainable talent pool through a virtual STEM Workshop and Live Chat in partnership with the Singapore Science Centre, providing the platform for the younger ones to explore the education opportunities that the aerospace industry offers. A Virtual Career Fair in partnership with Workforce Singapore rounds up the AeroCampus through job matchmakiing for those within and outside of the industry. To advocate the sustainability theme, the media centre has largely gone paperless, with show directories and media releases being converted to digital formats.

This year’s static display sees the debut of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) Airbus H225M, Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, Indian Air Force Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, while in the flying display, the Boeing 777-9 and Tejas make their maiden airshow performances over Singapore skies.

Mr Lim Tse Yong, Vice President, Capital Goods & Conglomerates, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), touched on the response and support to the local aviation sector as it weathers the last two years. “While Singapore’s aerospace industry has not been spared from the impact of Covid, what is important is how we have responded. Early on in the pandemic, the various government agencies, trade association and unions came together to engage our companies and find out from them, what is the best way we could help. Our companies told us that they have spent many years investing in the skills of their workers. If we were to lose these skills, it will take a long time to rebuild. This is precisely why we provided 23 months of wage support for our companies to keep jobs and preserve capabilities. If we can preserve these capabilities, our companies would be ready to seize the recovery when it happens.”

On sustainability, Mr Lim said, “We’re asking ourselves, what the future of the aerospace industry will look like, 10 years from now, 20 years from now. We want to work with like-minded partners to pre-position ourselves for this future. Sustainability will be a big thing as the industry looks to support the ever growing demand for air travel in a sustainable way. There is no silver bullet. A basket of measures will be required. We’re talking about sustainable aviation fuels, electric propulsion and even hydrogen powered aircraft.”

Mr Lim Tse Yong, Vice President, Capital Goods & Conglomerates, Singapore Economic Development Board

Moving Forward to Recovery

In his welcome address at the Singapore Airshow 2022 Opening Ceremony at Marina Bay Sands on 14 February, Mr Ravinder Singh, Chairman, Experia, said, “We live in a challenging world. Two years ago, Singapore Airshow 2020 was one of the last large-scale events that took place in Singapore at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Singapore opens its largest event in the last 2 years. Singapore Airshow remains committed to our mission to contribute to the global transformation of the aerospace and defence industry.”

Mr Ravinder Singh, Chairman, Experia (Photo by Singapore Airshow 2022)

“Besides the recovery and growth of air travel, we are also witnessing exciting innovation in the aerospace industry. Aviation regulators are expecting the first commercial electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) air taxi services to begin in 2024,” said Mr Singh. On sustainability being a key requirement of the industry, he said, “The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has announced that Singapore will be piloting the use of cleaner fuels in planes starting this year. This trial would involve the local blending of neat Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF, as well as the certification and delivery of these blended SAF to Changi Airport. All the world’s airlines have also committed to net zero emissions by 2050 at IATA’s Annual General Meeting held in October last year.”

On the current recovery of the aviation sector, Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, said, “Two years on, as we learn to live with the virus, countries are gradually re-opening their borders. International air travel passenger volume is expected to recover to 55% of pre-COVID levels this year, up from about 20% in 2021. IATA expects to see recovery to pre-COVID levels by 2025 or 2026. In tandem, we can also expect greater aerospace MRO activities, and new aircraft orders. We are therefore holding the Singapore Airshow at an appropriate time, as the global aviation and aerospace sectors look forward to recovery and new opportunities.”

With digitalisation and sustainability being the two key drivers of transformation, it is critical that efforts are done for a sector transformation. “On digitalisation, airports, airlines and the global aerospace industry are seeking to leverage digitalisation to transform their operations. Singapore is doing likewise. In air traffic management, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore is working with universities and other partners, such as MITRE and Thales, to undertake research to improve air traffic management using digital and other tools.”

Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies (Photo by Singapore Airshow 2022)

“We must also take on longer-term challenges, such as sustainability. Today, aviation accounts for nearly 2% of global emissions. I am glad that global airlines have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. There is no silver bullet. We need to take a multi-prong approach to achieve this – including the use of sustainable aviation fuels, optimising flight path and operations, and deploying more energy efficient aircrafts,” said Mr Heng.

Reshaping Our Future

“Looking even further ahead, we must imagine new possibilities and nurture deep innovation that can reshape the future of aviation. These innovations take time.,” said Mr Heng, on nurturing deep innovation as a means of going beyond to our future. “One possible gamechanger is autonomous aircrafts. We commonly think of autonomous vehicles as self-driving cars, and we do have several AVs operating at Changi Airport for baggage transportation. But these technologies can also be adopted for aviation – initially to improve how we guide and control aircrafts, and eventually, to transport cargo and people around autonomously.”

“Another area is Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing aircrafts, or eVTOL.Volocopter first captured the imagination of many Singaporeans when it flew its prototype eVTOL aircraft over Marina Bay in 2019, just a few hundred metres from where we sit today. To capitalise on the growth of the global eVTOL market , we are growing the Advanced Air Mobility community at Seletar Aerospace Park.”

Closing up his speech, Mr Heng said, “The pandemic has brought about unprecedented disruptions for aerospace and aviation. Your resilience, adaptability and determination have shone through in one of the most difficult chapters of aviation history. As we gather today for the Singapore Airshow, we are on the path to recovery. Our efforts will shape the flight path of the aviation and aerospace industry for years to come.”