Over 500 Asia-Pacific Aviation Leaders and Experts to Gather for Third Edition of Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety in Singapore
4 April 2025
First-ever Ministerial Panel Underscores High-Level Attention on Aviation Safety Matters
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) will host the third Asia Pacific Summit for Aviation Safety (AP-SAS) from 15 to 17 July 2025 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore. Themed Future-Proofing Aviation Safety: Adapt, Innovate, Excel, this annual summit will bring together more than 500 aviation leaders, regulators, executives and experts from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to discuss emerging aviation safety challenges with air traffic in the Asia Pacific region set to triple in the next 20 years, and how States can build a more resilient and safe aviation ecosystem in the Asia Pacific region.
2 Mr Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will deliver the keynote address, followed by a first-ever high-level panel discussion with Transport Ministers on why aviation safety matters and their plans to ensure public trust and confidence. Aviation experts will then follow up to discuss strategies to strengthen States’ safety regimes, cultures, and leaderships to build a robust and adaptable aviation safety ecosystem where:
- Aviation professionals are both mentally and technically prepared for unforeseen events
- Technology is designed with built-in redundancy to meet future demands
- Regulatory capabilities evolve ahead of industry needs
- Processes are developed with threat and error management at their core, and
- Safety management systems anticipate and adapt to emerging complexities
3 Key expert panel discussions include:
a. Right People, in the Right Place, at the Right Time
Aviation leaders will discuss how to build and maintain a skilled aviation workforce as the industry grows rapidly including strategies for attracting top talent, developing future leaders, and adapting training methods to new generational preferences whilst upholding the highest safety standards.
b. Reinforcing Safety Fundamentals to Address Persistent and Emerging Safety Risks
Against the backdrop of recent high-profile aviation incidents, this panel will examine how recurring safety challenges, particularly those identified in ICAO's Global Aviation Safety Plan, continue to test our industry's resilience. The session will address how the aviation community can adapt established safety practices while building new layers of protection against persistent and emerging risks. Panelists will also explore strategies to strengthen fundamental safety protocols, focusing on critical risks such as Loss of Control In-Flight, Runway Incursions and Excursions, and Mid-Air Collisions.
c. Safety Management Systems (SMS): The Journey Ahead
As Safety Management Systems (SMS) evolve, this panel will look towards the next frontier of aviation safety by sharing how interconnected SMS programmes across the aviation ecosystem can bring opportunities to more swiftly adapt to unexpected safety challenges. Experts will examine the strategic expansion of SMS into new operational domains, the development of integrated systems for enhanced information sharing, and autonomous risk identification solutions. The panel will also explore the shift towards more real-time and predictive systems, as well as innovative approaches to anticipating emerging threats in our rapidly changing industry.
d. Weathering the Storm: Turbulence and Weather Hazards
The Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation Safety’s regional safety assessment identified turbulence as the highest non-fatal accident occurrence category in the region. Such events are of global concern and ICAO is expected to include turbulence as a global operational safety risk in the 2026-2028 Global Aviation Safety Plan. This panel will discuss the next steps towards a comprehensive approach to address this risk, as well as other weather hazards, including enhanced training for flight and cabin crew, improved and real-time communications, and investments in advanced weather forecasting technologies.
4 The AP-SAS is held annually, alternately in Singapore and another Asia-Pacific country. The inaugural AP-SAS, held in Singapore in 2023, had facilitated a regional data-sharing initiative undertaken by Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand to share data on safety occurrences and take more targeted actions to address common safety challenges. The 2nd AP-SAS held in Beijing, China, was jointly organised by CAAS, FSF and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), with a focus on people at the heart of aviation operations. One outcome of the Summit was a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the CAAS and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China to promote learning and human capital development in civil aviation regulatory oversight through capacity building and training of civil aviation regulatory personnel in Singapore and China.
5 Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS said: "The strong participation and high-level Ministerial attendance in this year’s Summit is testament to the heightened attention on aviation safety and the need for greater public assurance that flying remains safe notwithstanding recent aviation incidents. CAAS is honoured to partner Flight Safety Foundation to convene this now well-established annual platform where aviation leaders and professionals can come together to discuss what happened, learn from them and take better preventive actions.”
6 Dr Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation said: “With Asia-Pacific aviation traffic projected to grow significantly over the next two decades, the industry must not only prepare for the future but also remain committed to today's safety fundamentals. I am excited for AP-SAS 2025 and the opportunity to engage with experts from across the region and around the world to address critical safety challenges.”
7 For more information on the summit’s programme and to register, visit https://flightsafety.swoogo.com/ap-sas-2025.
About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg.
About Flight Safety Foundation
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and communications to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety. For more information, visit www.flightsafety.org.
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