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SINGAPORE – The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will implement flight restrictions during national reviews in response to noise concerns, several MPs announced in Facebook posts.
From the day before four national exams, the Primary School Completion Exam (PSLE) and the GCE O, N and A level exams, until the end of the examination period, the RSAF will reduce the flight frequency and end its night flight activities before.
Restrictions will be implemented according to an exam schedule provided by the Ministry of Education (MOE), with the exception of emergencies or flights for national security reasons.
This year’s national exams are scheduled to begin on September 14 and end on December 2.
RSAF’s decision was announced by MPs Yeo Wan Ling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten SMC) and Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC).
Ms. Yeo and Mr. Lim had separately mentioned on their Facebook pages the concerns expressed by residents about aircraft noise during the review period.
Noting that RSAF operations are crucial to national defense, Ms Yeo, who represents the residents of Punggol Shore, said that the planes her residents hear are taking off or landing at Paya Lebar Air Base.
He added that the flights are part of his training to maintain the operational readiness of the air force.
This is not the first time that concerns about aircraft noise have been raised during the review period.
In a 2011 response to a letter from the Forum to the Straits Times titled “Silence please, at least for PSLE,” the Ministry of Defense (Mindef) said it is coordinating with the Ministry of Education to ensure that RSAF training does not cause disruptions to all national level exams, including the PSLE.
Citing flight logs from September 16, 2011, he said that “all training flights from Sembawang, Tengah and Paya Lebar air bases were conducted outside of the PSLE listening test period.”
“We will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure that school exams are not interrupted while RSAF maintains its operational readiness and competence,” Mindef added at the time.
Dr. Lim and Ms. Yeo added that RSAF has made these arrangements for years.
“We have always been concerned that helicopters from Sembawang Air Base are not flying during exam periods, especially during listening and speaking exams,” said Dr. Lim.
“If the noise is too loud when the helicopters fly by, yes, it could unfairly affect some students. But (adjusting flight schedules around the exam period) has been common practice. “
Mindef said the RSAF needs to continue flying in local airspace to keep its pilots competent and maintain operational readiness to safeguard the skies over Singapore.
“While a significant proportion of RSAF flight training is conducted with simulators and abroad, local flight training is still necessary,” he added.
The ministry also said that RSAF conducts most of the local flights over water rather than over land to mitigate the impact of aircraft noise on the public.
It has also reduced flight routes over populated areas where possible and has minimized the number of aircraft per flight window.
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