Singapore To Boost Aviation Safety Following MH17 Tragedy

SINGAPORE, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- In the wake of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH17 disaster, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is considering measures to enhance the sharing of safety and security information among national aviation authorities and airlines. Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the airlines could then plan their flight routes and assess the risks involved more robustly. In an oral reply to questions raised in parliament on flight planning, Lui said: "International civil aviation requires an aircraft to traverse multiple countries, but no single authority would be able to provide all the information on the situation outside its jurisdiction." He said countries needed to rely on one another and needed to work together to ensure the continued safety of civil aviation. Since the MH17 incident, many have expressed concern over the safety of flights overflying conflict areas. Lui said the international community, led by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), was urgently reviewing the issues and potential responses to be pursued with respect to civilian aircraft operating to, from and over conflict areas. "We will participate actively in these efforts to make air travel safer and more secure," he said. Moreover, CAAS, as the regulatory authority, required Singapore carriers to put in place a robust flight planning process to ensure the safe operations of flights, he said. Also, following the MH17 incident, CAAS has requested Singapore carriers to review their risk assessment of flight operations over conflict areas. Lui noted that the Flight MH17 incident was a horrific tragedy. "It should never happen again. As a nation, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our neighbour and express our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims," he said. Flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with 283 passengers and 15 crew on board. The Boeing 777-200 aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the troubled country. -- BERNAMA