Singapore’s First Air Traffic Management Research Institute take shape

Singapore’s first Air Traffic Management Research Institute (ATMRI) is taking shape. Jointly established by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the ATMRI conducts research and development (R&D) to develop or adapt solutions to enhance air traffic management (ATM) in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.

To provide strategic directions and steer the R&D efforts of the ATMRI, the ATMRI Governing Council has been established. Co-chaired by the Director-General of CAAS and the Provost of NTU, the Governing Council consists of Members by invitation. The Members come from various organisations with strong interests and involved in ATM operations and development in Singapore, the region and globally. The Members themselves have extensive knowledge, expertise and experience with respect to ATM.

The Co-Chairs and Members of the Governing Council for the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2015 are as follows:

Mr Yap Ong Heng

(Co-Chair)

Director-General

Civil Aviation Authority of

Singapore

Prof Freddy Boey

(Co-Chair)

Provost

Nanyang Technological

University, Singapore

Mr Richard Deakin

(Member)

Chief Executive Officer

NATS UK

Mr Ken McLean

(Member)

Regional Director, Safety

and Flight Operations, Asia

Pacific

International Air Transport

Association

BG Lim Yeong Kiat

(Member)

Chief of Staff (Air Staff)

Republic of Singapore Air

Force

Mr Soh Poh Theen

(Member)

Assistant Director-General

(Air Navigation Services)

Civil Aviation Authority of

Singapore

Prof Chua Chee Kai

(Member)

Chair, School of

Mechanical & Aerospace

Engineering

Nanyang Technological

University, Singapore

Dr Hsin Chen Chung

(Member)

Director

Air Traffic Management

Research Institute

Dr Hsin Chen Chung was appointed as the first Director of the ATMRI in October 2013. He reports directly to the Governing Council and leads the Institute's Management team.

Mr McLean said, “Today, the Asia-Pacific region is the world’s largest market for air transport, ahead of Europe and the US. The region is expected to continue growing, accounting for 37% of global traffic by 2017 as compared to 33% in 2012. It is critical that the aviation infrastructure, including air traffic management, is able to accommodate the anticipated traffic growth. As we embark on the second century of commercial aviation, the work of ATMRI will help shape innovative solutions that facilitate safe and efficient aircraft operations. We look forward to sharing the global airline industry’s perspective and experience from around the world in this collaborative initiative by CAAS and NTU.”

Mr Deakin commented: “To be invited to join the ATMRI is an enormous honour and reflective of the high quality of NATS’ work and the esteem in which it is held around the world. I look forward to working closely with CAAS and NTU to help secure Singapore’s continued future at the forefront of global aviation.”

BG Lim said, “I am honored to be appointed a member of the first Governing Council of the ATMRI. The set-up of the ATMRI is timely as it is anticipated that nearly half of the world’s air traffic growth would be driven by travel to, from or within the Asia Pacific in the next 20 years. With air traffic forecasted to grow rapidly, there is hence a need to ensure safe and efficient Air Traffic Management (ATM). I look forward to contributing to ATMRI’s ambition to deliver new concepts, technologies and innovative solutions for ATM that will benefit Singapore and the Asia Pacific region.”

In line with its mission, in addition to R&D projects launched, the ATMRI will be holding a seminar on “Perspectives on Seamless Air Traffic Management” at NTU on 25 March 2014. Bringing together experts from the ATM field, the seminar will discuss the vision of achieving seamless ATM in the Asia-Pacific region. Speakers from various organisations including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), EUROCONTROL, The MITRE Corporation, Thales and German Aerospace Centre (DLR) will share their perspectives and insights.