Can Singapore's First Domestic Aircraft Spark Aerospace Industry Growth?

The development of a new domestically-produced aircraft in Singapore is underway.

This project aims to revitalize the nation's national aerospace industry. The goal is to shift focus beyond traditional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services. The new aircraft is an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle.

Project Details and Timeline

The Singapore eVTOL manufacturer is the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The university unveiled a scaled technology demonstrator at the Singapore Airshow. The project is led by Professor James Wang. He is an internationally recognized expert in rotary-wing and eVTOL design. The team has been working on the concept for several years.

• The scaled model has an 8-meter wingspan.
• It is a lift-and-cruise configuration.
• The design includes eight lift rotors and a rear pusher propeller.
• The full-scale aircraft is designed to carry four passengers plus one pilot.
• It can also carry up to 500 kilograms of cargo.

Certification of the full-scale eVTOL aircraft is not expected until 2035. Flight testing of a scaled model is already taking place. Trials have been conducted both in Singapore and Germany. The team is actively seeking further government funding. This is needed to progress toward certification and production. The project received government funding in 2023.

Building National Expertise

This initiative is a strategic move for Singapore aviation innovation. The ultimate goal is an aircraft fully "designed, engineered, and built in Singapore". This focus moves Singapore toward becoming an aerospace manufacturing hub. The project leverages the country's existing deep MRO expertise. It also aims to develop end-to-end capability in eVTOL research. The work is supported by the government's Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 (RIE2025) plan. Technical learnings from this project will benefit the wider local aerospace industry.

Advanced Air Mobility and Regulatory Framework

The development aligns with the global push for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). AAM aims to transform transport in densely populated urban air mobility environments. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is a leader in establishing the Singapore regulatory framework.

CAAS, alongside 23 other Asia-Pacific regulators, developed new safety standards. These guidelines cover air taxi and drone operations. The standards are intended for submission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This regional collaboration is crucial for safe AAM deployment. Singapore is also establishing an airport-based testbed. This testbed will support next-generation propulsion technologies. This demonstrates a comprehensive strategy to future-proof the nation's aviation sector.

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