Two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white. Near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle. Red denotes brotherhood and equality. White signifies purity and virtue. The waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy. The five stars represent the nation’s ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.

Flag courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Google Earth

The ArtScience Museum on Marina Bay in Singapore resembles a lotus flower. The museum is part of the Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino.

Photo courtesy of the CIA World Factbook

Government

According to Britannica, Singapore is a unitary parliamentary democracy based on the Westminster model. The president is head of state; until 1991 the largely ceremonial post of president was filled by parliamentary election, but in that year the constitution was amended to allow for the direct popular election of the president and for presidential powers to be expanded. The unicameral Parliament consists of 94 members, of whom 84 are elected and 10 are appointed to terms of up to five years. The parliamentary majority selects the prime minister, who is head of government, and the cabinet from its own ranks, and they in turn form the government. In each constituency there is a Citizens’ Consultative Committee, designed to link local communities to the ruling party.

Close liaison is maintained between the political and administrative arms of government. The administrative structure consists of the various ministries and statutory boards. These are staffed by civil servants who are monitored by an independent Public Service Commission.

Justice is administered by the Supreme Court and by courts of lesser jurisdiction, such as district and magistrates’ courts. Appeals can be made from the lower to the higher courts, with final appeal to the Court of Appeals. A Sharīʿah court has jurisdiction in matters of Islamic law.

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has a mission to “Grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore’s success”. CAAS roles are to enable the growth of the air hub and aviation industry, oversee and promote safety in the industry, provide air navigation services, and develop Singapore as a center of excellence for aviation knowledge and human resource development.

Airspace

SkyVector – Google Maps – ADS-B Exchange

ICAO countries publish an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP). This document is divided into three parts: General (GEN), En Route (ENR) and Aerodromes (AD). ENR 1.4 details the types of airspace classes they chose to adopt from classes A through G.

Singapore AIP

Drone Regulations

Unmanned Aircraft

C-UAS

On 31 March 2021, a purpose-built C-UAS Operations Command and Control Centre (OCC) was operationalized.

This augments C-UAS and surveillance capabilities to ensure aviation and public safety.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Regulations & Policies

2024 – Aviation Studies Institute – A Future With Autonomous Urban Air Mobility

2023 – Singapore and the United Kingdom to Step Up Collaboration in Five Areas to Prepare Aviation Sector for the Future

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) News

2024 – CAAS, JCAB to collaborate on developing UAS, AAM regulations

2024 – Global Sky inks preorder for 15 VoltAero eVTOL aircraft

2024 – Singapore and Supernal Develop Advanced Air Mobility

2023 – Heron AirBridge works to bring AAM operations to Asia-Pacific countries

2023 – Volocopter – The Launch of Urban Air Mobility in Singapore – A ROADMAP

2023 – Singapore and the United Kingdom to Step Up Collaboration in Five Areas to Prepare Aviation Sector for the Future

Short Essay Questions