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MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 29 July 2022 His Excellency Mr Taavi Aas Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications Republic of Estonia Dear Excellency, 1 have the honour to inform you that Singapore is seeking re-eiection to the Council of the International Clvii Aviation Organization (bAO), under Part II, at eiections to be held during the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly from 27 September to 7 October 2022 in MontraI. Singapore has bong had a strong and active interest in international clvii aviation affairs. We have and wiIl continue to emphasise an inciusive approach to decision making at the ICAO that takes into account the diverse needs and interests of ICAO Member States. Singapore’s unique position as an aviation hub with an advanced international airport and comprehensive aerospace industry, allows us to oifer a baianced position on issues at the ICAO. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore has kept our international air hub open and aviation activities going as much as possible to serve the criticai need of transporting people and cargo by air. We have also been privileged to assist the 1CAO in varlous ieadership roles in ICAO working bodies, and contributed our expertise to the deveiopment of the ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices. We are also glad that the Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) has been abie to provide training and the development of aviation human resources to many countries, including Estonia. Singapore wouid be greatly honoured for the opportunity to continue serving the international clvii aviation community through our membership on the ICAO Council. We book forward to contributing to the advancement of the ICAO’s objectives in service of ali 1CAO Member States. 1 am pleased to enclose an aide-mmoire setting out Singapore’s candidature in further detail. JA 01 09, 2022 .. &/Q J45 -‘1  1 would deeply appreciate your favourable consideration and support for Singapore’s candidature to the ICAO Council, at the elections to be held later this year in September/October 2022. Thank you, and please accept the assurances of my highest consideration. Yours sincerely, SISWA N EncI. AIDE-MIMOIRE 1 The Republic of Singapore seeks the support of fellow Member States for our re election to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Councii in Part II of the elections at the 4P’ ICAO Assembly in September/October 2022. A Member State of ICAO since 1966, Singapore shares ICAO’s vision ofsafe, secure, efficient and sustainabie international civii aviation. We are deeply honoured to serve on the ICAO Council to advance international aviation for the benefit of ali. 2 Singapore has built a robust aviation ecosystem to provide the necessary facilities— infrastructure, capabilities, persoimel and systems for international aviation and serve as — an international aviation hub. Singapore Changi Airport is a key international air hub, serving about 68 million passengers in 2019; Singapore Airlines is a world-class airline that uses Changi Airport as its hub, carrying more than 36 million passengers on more than 130 passenger city links in 2019; whilst the Singapore Air Navigation Services Provider (ANSP) rnanaged over 740,000 annual aircraft rnovements in 2019 in the Singapore Flight Information Region one of the busiest and most complex in the Asia-Pacific. Changi - Airport, Singapore Airlines and the Singapore ANSP have and will further develop their capacity 10 serve future international aviation needs. 3 International aviation is starting to see some signs ofrecovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly impacted the sector, lives and livelihoods. While there will still be challenges on the path to restoration and growth, Singapore will work with the ICAO and fellow Mernber States towards reviving and strengthening the giobal civil aviation seetor. Recoveringfrom the Crisis Together 4 As with many ICAO Member States, Singapore’s aviation sector was badly hit by the pandemic. Nonetheless, we are keeping our international air hub open and aviation activities going as much as possibie to serve the critical need of transporting people and cargo by air. Efforts included: O facilitating thousands of peopie who were stranded abroad to fly home through 5 ingapore; O facilitating the rnovement of air cargo, essential items and vaccines, including being a key contributor to ICAO’s security guidelines for the efficient transhipment of COVID-19 vaccines through airports. Singapore Airlines was one of the first to operate passenger aircraft to carry freight to shore up the aviation suppiy chain; 1  O helping, as a founder-member of the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA), to coordinate aviation public health efforts with international partners giobally and in ali regions through the pandemic; O actively supporting the work of the ICAO Councii Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), the development of guidance materiais and manuals for the safe recovery of giobal air travel, and the impiementation through the Asia-Pacific COVID- 19 Contingency and Recovery Planning Group (ACCRPG). We reaffinn our support for the commitments made at the ICAO High-Level Conference on COVID-19 (HLCC) in 2021 in rebuilding international aviation through collective action; O implementing various measures, such as Vaccinated Travei Lanes, to revive air travei for socio-economic needs without compromising public health; O sharing our initiatives and experiences with States and industry on managing COVID-19 in the aviation sector. These include practical policies and operational soiutions deveioped with other stakeholders, such as the public health authority; and O helping, as co-chair of the Flight Operations Panel, to develop Quick Reference Guides and guidance materiais for the Targeted Exemptions system to address safety implications arising from COVID-19, as weii as measures to enable air crew to continue operations. We also made aircraft simulator training accessible for pilots from overseas to undergo proficiency checks. Reinforcing Aviation Safety, Security, Efflciency and Sustainability 5 Aviation safety, security and facilitation remain key fundamentais, even with the pandemic. Singapore is resolute in ensuring safe, secure and efficient air transport operations, including the orderly flow of air traffic, operational readiness of aviation personnel, and airworthiness of aircraft. We are committed to working closely with feilow Mernber States on collaborative and inclusive efforts in this endeavour. 6 Singapore continues to participate in most ICAO paneis and expert groups, including in lead roles, to help develop standards and recommended practices (SARPS) to irnprove safety and security oversight systems and perforrnance. Singapore co-led the development of the 2020 Asia-Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Plan (AP-RASP), with practicable actions and targets, under the Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG)-APAC. As co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team (APRAST), we are committed to partnering feilow Member States in implementing the AP-RASP and strengthening aviation safety in the region. We also continue to participate actively in the Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Programrne-Southeast Asia (COSCAP-SEA). 2 7 Singapore is an active member of the ICAO Aviation Security (AVSEC) Panel and chairing the Working Group on Annex 17 to develop AVSEC policies and SARPS to strengthen the giobal aviation system. As a member of the ICAO Facilitation (FAL) Panel, Singapore helped to develop new FAL guidance materiais. We are also participating in expert groups on emerging areas, such as Cybersecurity and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). 8 Advancing Safe and Efficient ATM. Singapore is cornrnitted to building a vibrant air navigation ecosystem, incorporating cutting edge technologies, to increase capacity and ensure safe and efficient air traffic flow for the benefit of the giobal community. Singapore has started work on developing the next-generation air traffic rnanagement (ATM) system that will meet the goals in TCAO’s Giobal Air Navigation Pian. Singapore is also actively trialing new ATM concepts that support more efficient flight paths and optimise runway usage, such as flexible use of airspace, air traffic flow management for long-haul flights, and smart digital towers, as well as for UAS traffic management. 9 As Chair of the ICAO Asia-Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Impiementation Regional Group (APANPIRG), Singapore continues to work closely with Member States and the industry to realise ICAO’s vision of a seamless and harmonised globai air traffic management system. Singapore also sponsors an expert on the ICAO’s Air Navigation Cornrnission to advise on ATM deveiopments and issues. 10 Building Sustainable Aviation. Clirnate change is an existential crisis, and the international aviation community has a responsibility to rebuiid a more sustainable sector. Singapore is committed to supporting ICAO’s leadership and giobal efforts. We continue to contribute through our lead roles in the Council Climate and Environment Committee (CEC), Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), and Technicai Advisory Body (TAB). 11 Buiiding on the resolutions adopted at the 40t1 ICAO General Assembly, Singapore is advancing the use of sustainable aviation fueis (SAF), working with ali on exploring the feasibility of long-term aspirational goals, supporting the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and increasing its accessibility to carbon credit markets. We also continue to work with partner States under the ACT-CORSIA Buddy Partnerships on capacity building. Nurturing the Aviation Leaders and Professionais of Tornorrow: Inclusive Aviatio,, Developnient 12 Singapore remains committed to providing aviation training opportunities to the TCAO and all ICAO Member States. Since 1958, sorne 150,000 aviation professionals at operationai, managerial and ieadership leveis frorn over 200 States and territories have attended Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) programmes, including flagship 3 programmes such as the ICAO-Singapore Directors-General of Civil Aviation (DGCAs) Programme on Aviation Safety and Security, Civii Aviation Management Programme, Civii Aviation Chief Executives Programme, and World Civii Aviation Chief Executives Forum. More than 8,500 feliowships and schoiarships have been awarded. 13 In rec ent years, the Academy has been renewing its curriculum and andragogy to cater to the new generation of aviation professionais and make its programmes more accessibie. This includes e-leaming to overcome COVID- 19 travel restrictions and ensure training continuity. Special runs of courses were aiso conducted to re-skili aviation professionais for more job opportunities within the seetor, such as in aviation crisis management. 14 Virtual roundtables were also organised with Directors-General around the worid to share experiences and best practices, enhancing mutual understanding and cataiysing partnerships to address the chalienges faced. These include the safety and inorale of aviation workers, and innovation to keep up, restore and revive aviation activities. Singapore is aiso working with ICAO to deveiop a new DGCAs Programme on Aviation Recovery to share lessons and knowledge that will be useful to ali aviation stakehoiders. 15 The future of aviation is built on a strong foundation of aviation ieaders and professionais. Singapore wili work with feiiow ICAO Member States to continue to draw talent into the sector and support their growth and deveiopment, taking into account giobal evolution and changes, advancement in technoiogy, innovation, and the greater need for synergy and collaboration among ali aviation stakeholders. Working Togetherfor the Future ofAviation 16 Aviation will tide over the pandemic and emerge stronger. Under ICAO s leadership, ‘ Singapore looks forward to making contributions and working with feilow Member States in buiiding a robust and sustainabie framework for international aviation, navigating through uncharted waters, and furthering inclusive aviation revivai and growth, with No Country Left Behind. 17 We thank ali ICAO Member States for their support and partnership, and iook forward to your continued support for our ICAO Councii candidature in Part II of the elections at the ICAO Assembiy in September/October 2022. 4