Measures to Mitigate Aircraft Noise at Jurong West Area
Ministry of DefenceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the measures taken by the Republic of Singapore Air Force to mitigate aircraft noise for residents in the Jurong West area. Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan inquired about noise reduction efforts given the rise in remote work and the proximity of schools and infants. Minister Ng Eng Hen responded that the RSAF conducts half of its training overseas, uses simulators, and plans flight routes away from residential areas. He added that the air force adjusts training hours during school examinations and collaborates with government agencies on noise-mitigating infrastructure designs. These measures for new developments include using thicker window glass, noise-deflecting façades, and orientating buildings away from direct flight paths.
Transcript
8 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Defence what measures has RSAF undertaken at Tengah Airbase to mitigate aircraft noise when landing and flying over Jurong West area, taking into consideration that there are more residents working from home, schools in the proximity and families with infants at home.
Dr Ng Eng Hen: Local flying training is critical to keep our pilots proficient and to maintain the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s operational readiness to safeguard Singapore's skies. When Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) is decommissioned, flights from the existing PLAB will be shifted to the expanded Tengah and Changi Air Bases and some will be moved overseas. The increase in frequency of flights from Tengah Air Base will depend on the RSAF's operations and training needs.
To minimise the impact of aircraft noise on residents in the vicinity of our air bases, the RSAF has in place several noise abatement measures. These include, conducting about 50% of RSAF flying training requirements overseas, shifting some of the local flying requirements to simulators, planning for local flying routes away from residential areas where possible and adjusting flying training tempo and hours during school examinations period.
The Ministry of Defence and the RSAF have also worked with Government agencies, such as the Housing and Development Board and the National Environment Agency, on noise mitigating measures for new infrastructure developments in the vicinity of air bases, such as Tengah New Town. Examples of measures adopted for public housing include, thicker window glass for better sound insulation when windows are closed, façade designs with overhangs or canopies to deflect and abate noise transmission and orientating buildings away from the direct line of aircraft flight paths.