Developing and Maintaining a Singaporean Core in Commercial Aviation Pilot Sector

9 Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Transport what measures are being taken to maintain and develop a Singaporean Core in the commercial aviation pilot sector.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: There are currently about 3,200 commercial pilots employed by Singapore-based airlines. About nine in 10 of them are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.

To ensure that our airlines continue to have access to a sizeable pool of Singaporean pilots, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has approved four pilot training academies in Singapore, which supplement the airlines' in-house training programmes.

There are also programmes to support Singaporean pilots to upskill themselves. Those who are keen to deepen their management or specialist skills are able to tap on various avenues of support, including CAAS' Aviation Leaders Scholarship, the SkillsFuture Study Awards and the SkillsFuture Credit scheme.