The Role of An Aviation Regulator in a Changing World

If you ask the average person what the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) does, you’re likely to get a range of answers. From guesses such as running Changi Airport, to training flight attendants, indicating that the public does not have a very accurate idea of what CAAS does. As the government body regulating aviation in Singapore, CAAS plays a critical role in navigating a complex and rapidly changing aviation landscape. This was made vivid during the sharing by Mr Chen Yiliang, the Head of Strategy and Planning at CAAS. During his sharing, Mr Chen shared about the indispensable support and infrastructure that aviation regulators provide to airlines and airports, as well as how CAAS is spearheading innovation and positive change across all aspects of Singapore’s aviation industry, amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic and digital revolution.

While CAAS does not take centre-stage in the same dazzling way that our international airport or national airline does, it plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role as a coordinating authority holding each piece of our aviation sector together. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, globally, the privatised components of aviation have increasingly become more profit-sensitive, prompting innovations in the direction of reducing operational costs. When businesses adopt more profit-driven models, collaboration among stakeholders decreases, as each individual company becomes motivated to develop and operate proprietary systems that allow them to control pricing, costs, and profits entirely. Therefore, aviation regulators are needed now more than ever to encourage independent entities to increase interoperability and prioritise providing accessible and fair travel options to the public.

However, as Mr. Chen pointed out, this is quite a challenge; after all, the CAAS cannot compel any airline, airport operator, or third-party travel websites to act for some lofty “greater good” of the public or the industry’s overarching goals. Currently, one of these industry-wide goals is the digitalisation and integration of newer, more efficient technologies and processes in aviation. Having previously hosted a sharing by Changi Airport Group on a similar topic, our club gained two different perspectives regarding digitalisation and the implementation of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). One of the points shared on the matter by Mr Chen is about how the aviation industry must continue to safeguard the interests of our human workers and employees, to use technology to enhance their jobs and improve efficiency, rather than cutting humans out of the equation entirely. This consideration is particularly vital in light of the pandemic, which exposed critical vulnerabilities that could halt the entire industry. It is no secret that the aviation industry has lost some of its lustre and attractiveness as an employer, and thus establishing regulations that would allow current and future professionals to work without the fear of significant disruption or instability caused by forthcoming technological advancements, would be crucial to the growth of the sector.