As the global aviation industry continues to evolve, the need for skilled, adaptable, and future-ready professionals has never been more pressing. ICAO works with Member States, training centres, and international partners to strengthen global aviation capacity through its Global Aviation Training Programme, helping ensure that the industry has the talent it needs to remain safe, secure, sustainable, and resilient.
Singapore has long been a champion of aviation training and a strategic partner in ICAO’s capacity-building efforts. Through the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA)—the training arm of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)—the ICAO Member State has helped shape generations of aviation professionals from around the world.
Providing high-quality training to support successive generations of aviation professionals is a key priority for Singapore. Established in 1958, the SAA offers a wide range of operational and management programmes for practising aviation professionals. For 60 years, SAA has trained more than 160,000 aviation professionals from over 200 countries and territories.
From 16 to 17 July 2025, CAAS will host the inaugural ICAO APAC Regional Training Symposium, which has been organized by ICAO and SAA. In anticipation of this important event, we asked Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, CAAS to share his perspectives on the future of aviation training and capacity development in the region, as well as CAAS’s collaboration with ICAO to build a more resilient and skilled global aviation workforce.
Q: In July CAAS will welcome participants to the ICAO APAC Regional Training Symposium. How do you see the event contributing to the development of aviation training and capacity-building in the region?
HKJ: Singapore is a firm believer and a longstanding partner of ICAO in capacity-building and human capital development. We are honoured to host this inaugural training symposium in support of ICAO’s objectives for training cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.
With increased demand for air travel and aviation industry in the Asia Pacific region poised for growth, building a sustainable pipeline of skilled aviation professionals will be critical. Individual States cannot address this on their own, it will require collaboration amongst States and the private sector.
In 2024, ICAO Member States in the Asia Pacific region, including Singapore came together to establish the Regional Training Cooperation Framework (RTCF) Working Group to strengthen training cooperation in the region. The ICAO APAC Regional Training Symposium is a key initiative under the RTCF Working Group, co-organised by the SAA and ICAO. I believe it will be a strategic platform for aviation leaders and industry professionals in the region to dialogue, share best practices on training and discuss ideas on how to work together to train and equip aviation professionals to advance civil aviation development in the region.
Q: How does CAAS support ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professional (NGAP) initiative?
HKJ: As the aviation sector will evolve through innovation and emerging technologies, CAAS is committed to ICAO’s NGAP initiative to develop and equip the next generation of aviation professionals with the know-how and competencies to navigate the new environment. We have implemented various programmes to attract young talents to the aviation sector, including scholarships and industry exposure programmes.
Together with ICAO, we launched the Singapore-ICAO Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Scholarship Programme in 2024. This programme is targeted at promising aviation professionals from around the world. Under the NGAP Scholarship programme, participants will attend a 6-week programme including two training programmes conducted by the SAA, a training attachment in Singapore with mentoring sessions by SAA Senior Fellows.
On the sidelines of the ICAO APAC Regional Training Symposium, we will be organising the Singapore-ICAO Aviation Youth for Aviation (YFA) Programme in support of the ICAO NGAP initiative. This is the first of its kind programme where we invite youth leaders from the Asia Pacific region, who are passionate about aviation, to network and discuss the future of aviation and career opportunities. We hope to inspire these youth through industry visits and engagements with senior aviation leaders.
Q: How is SAA adapting to emerging trends and technologies such as AI, VR, and competency-based training?
HKJ: We adopt a two-prong strategy. Firstly, we work closely with civil aviation authorities to match training to practice such that the programmes offered by SAA are tailored to meet the needs of practitioners and take a practice-oriented approach to competency development.
In line with this, the heads of our SAA schools are serving senior professional leaders in their respective areas, such as aviation management, aviation safety and security, and air traffic services. They will review and develop new professional curricula, build up the pool of trainers, and convene new platforms for thought leadership and engagement.
Secondly, SAA has started the use of learning technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and game-based learning (GBL), to enhance the effectiveness of its training programmes. For example, VR technology has been used in SAA’s airport firefighting training to simulate different fire-fighting scenarios, complementing live and simulator training at the fire training site. Such VR implementations have enhanced the learning experience by providing realistic, hands-on training opportunities that were previously difficult to replicate.
SAA is also exploring game-based learning (GBL) for the Probationary Air Traffic Control Officers (PATCOs) training. Games are customised to allow trainees to practise on concepts related to radar vectoring and traffic management. This personalised learning strategy aims to assess and enhance specific skillsets during the early stages of PATCO competency development.
Q: Can you describe your organization’s involvement in the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme, and how it has benefited the region?
HKJ: As an ICAO Platinum Training Centre of Excellence, SAA actively supports ICAO in its capacity-building efforts and assists member States in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. SAA has been an active member of the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme since 2011 and has run 20 ICAO-recognised training packages. Each year, SAA trains aviation professionals from around the world, supporting ICAO’s mission to strengthen global aviation.
Besides technical training that we provide for aviation professionals, we work with ICAO to develop customised leadership programmes such as the ICAO-SAA Directors General of Civil Aviation Programme on Aviation Safety and ICAO-SAA Directors General of Civil Aviation Programme on Aviation Security.
Q:What are the key challenges in developing a future-ready aviation workforce in the region, and how is SAA addressing them?
HKJ: Singapore faces several key challenges: a tight labour market and competing sectors looking for talent, an ageing workforce population, and growing aviation landscape complexity. We are working hard to make aviation careers more attractive to younger workers. We would need our aviation workforce to adapt and upskill to become more productive by leveraging on technological advances as demand for air travel in the region continues to grow strongly. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and climate change have the potential to disrupt existing jobs and processes, and we need to also prepare our workers to perform higher-value job functions. To address these, SAA is reviewing our curriculum and focusing on developing programmes that address both current needs and anticipates future training needs in aviation safety, air traffic management and other areas.
Q: How do you envision future partnerships fostering developments in aviation training?
HKJ: Partnerships are crucial for aviation training development. Enabling collaborative ecosystems that bring together training institutions, industry players, and regulatory bodies can leverage the collective expertise of all stakeholders to develop innovative training solutions as well as practical and viable sustainable aviation pathways.
The ICAO APAC Regional Training Symposium and ICAO Regional Training Cooperation Framework Working Group are excellent platforms to strengthen regional training partnerships and cross-sharing of ideas and resources. Together with ICAO, APAC member States and regional aviation academies, we look forward to work together on more training initiatives that will benefit the region and help raise the standard of civil aviation in APAC.
It is through strong partnerships that we unlock greater innovations, share collective wisdom and shape the skies of tomorrow!
Conclusion
As we prepare to welcome delegates to Singapore for the APAC Regional Training Symposium, ICAO is excited to continue building strong partnerships with all stakeholders in shaping the next era of aviation excellence across the region and beyond. With Member States like Singapore continuing to play critical roles in aviation training and capacity-building, the symposium underscores the nation’s commitment to fostering a resilient and skilled global aviation workforce. With its comprehensive programme, the symposium will highlight various training opportunities, particularly within the TRAINAIR PLUS Programme network and regional institutes, aimed at strengthening the aviation workforce across the APAC region. We look forward to welcoming delegates to this significant event, where collaborative efforts will shape the future of aviation excellence across the region and beyond.
